APEX, N.C. (WTVD) -- Candles lit up the night in Apex Saturday evening as friends and family came together for a vigil to remember Giovanni Pelletier .

The Fuquay-Varina High School graduate's body was found in a Florida retention pond last month.

Pelletier's stepfather, Jeremy Brown, said it's been hard for the family the past month without Gio.

"It's been hard being home without him," he said. "It's been hard knowing no more new memories with him."

Pelletier's girlfriend, Arden McArthur, told ABC11 some days are harder than others.

"He would want me to be strong. He would want me to do what I can," she said. "And there will be other times where it's just like, why?"

Giovanni was visiting family when he was first reported missing . His mom, Bridgette, told ABC11 her son conne

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