UPDATE: Authorities have confirmed the discovery of **18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier’s** body in a retention pond in **Florida**, a week after he went missing during a family vacation. The shocking news comes after his mother, **Bridgette Pelletier**, reported receiving a chilling text that read “Mom help” just before his disappearance on **August 1**.
The frantic search for Giovanni involved multiple agencies, including the **Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office**, which utilized K9 units, drones, and aviation resources to locate him. After days of searching, a family member found the body at approximately **3:15 PM** local time on **August 8**, partially submerged at the pond’s edge.
In a statement, police confirmed that the body had likely been in the water for several days before surfacing. The **District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office** later identified the remains through dental records, but the cause of death remains undetermined as toxicology tests are still pending, which could take several weeks.
Detectives have emphasized that there are currently no signs of foul play, stating, “This is an ongoing death investigation, and case updates will be released at the appropriate time.” A post-mortem examination revealed no signs of trauma or foul play, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Pelletier family is devastated by the loss and has set up a **GoFundMe** page to raise money for a reward and search resources, originally targeting **$15,000**. The campaign has surpassed expectations, now totaling **$23,606** in donations. The initial message on the page expressed the family’s anguish: “Giovanni is smart, kind, and full of life. He didn’t deserve this.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are actively pursuing leads to uncover more about the circumstances surrounding Giovanni’s tragic death. The community is urged to stay vigilant and report any information that may assist in the ongoing inquiry.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the investigation unfolds.
