Physique Discovered The place Lacking Teen Giovanni Pelletier Was Final Seen, Household Says It is Him

On Friday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace in Florida confirmed {that a} physique was found in a retention pond off of Interstate 75 and State Route 70 — which is close to the world the place 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier was final seen on August 1, in line with Raleigh ABC affiliate, WTVD.

On Saturday morning, the teenager’s household instructed the outlet that the physique was Giovanni’s. Nevertheless, Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace spokesman Randy Warren mentioned a decomposing physique that seemed to be male had been discovered, however acknowledged that deputies can not but verify the id of the deceased, per WWSB. He added that they have been retaining the Pettetier household “knowledgeable of developments.”

Giovanni’s mom, Bridgette Pelletier, additionally issued a press release on what’s believed to be her Fb account on Saturday, by which she additionally confirmed her son’s physique had been found.

“My son was not too long ago discovered after a determined search by OUR FAMILY ALONE, and we’re nonetheless dealing with an lively investigation into his dying,” she wrote. “I’m residing each guardian’s worst nightmare, looking for the energy to offer him the goodbye he deserves. We ask that you just please respect our privateness presently as we attempt to nevigate this for his 4 youthful siblings.”

Brigette shared the same assertion on the GoFundMe that was began by her sister, Desiree, following Giovanni’s disappearance, and likewise requested for donations within the wake of her son’s dying.

“Any funds raised now will present essential help to cowl funeral, medical, and authorized prices as we battle to honor his reminiscence via this unimaginable heartbreak,” she mentioned.

Giovanni Pelletier had been staying in Englewood, Florida, along with his household, together with Bridgette and his 4 siblings, visiting a relative who was receiving chemotherapy. Whereas there, he hoped to fulfill up with relations from his father’s facet, after rising up within the state earlier than he and his mom moved to North Carolina when he was 4.

After planning to just do that, three of his paternal cousins picked him up round 1:30 a.m. on August 1, with Bridgette’s fiancé seeing him off, Bridgette instructed Individuals. It was the final time anybody on her facet of the household would see him once more.

Whereas Bridgette was asleep, Giovanni allegedly started to frantically attain out to her — texting her “Mother assist,” calling her at 1:56 a.m., and trying a FaceTime a minute after that. He additionally reportedly texted his sister and her dad asking for assist. Bridgette, nonetheless, did not see any of this till hours later, when she awakened, noticing she additionally missed a name from one of many cousins … in addition to a voicemail from Giovanni’s paternal grandfather that one thing had occurred between the 4 males on the drive.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned the cousins instructed authorities, “Giovanni all of a sudden started to behave erratically earlier than exiting the car and strolling away.” Per Bridgette, the cousin who tried to name her later instructed her that the group had smoked marijuana collectively, earlier than Giovanni started panicking, brought about a scene, and even pulled out a knife.

“When that occurred, they mentioned they wrestled the knife from him, after which my son took off operating,” Bridgette instructed Individuals. “None of those children that have been with him have tried to name me and ask me if I discovered him, requested me if he is okay, requested me something.”

She additionally finds it suspicious that she was capable of finding his backpack and telephone deserted on the facet of the highway after monitoring the GPS, saying her son “eats, sleeps, showers, breathes his telephone.” She added that “the factor that tells me that one thing is improper is my son is aware of my quantity by coronary heart,” and he would “by no means run away and textual content me, ‘assist me,’ as a result of he is aware of that I might burn this world down to seek out him and that I would not be terrified of something or anyone, and I am not.”

In a GoFundMe began by Brigette’s sister, she wrote that Giovanni has been “lacking beneath deeply troubling and suspicious circumstances,” calling the textual content her sister acquired “chilling.”

“Giovanni is sensible, form, and energetic. He did not deserve this,” she continued. “Our household is devastated, terrified, and doing all the pieces in our energy to deliver him dwelling — however we’re receiving little or no assist from officers, and we’re being compelled to look on our personal.”

It seems that the household did simply that — as WBTV reported that Giovanni’s physique was found by a non-public investigation group employed by the Pelletiers.

In line with the outlet, the retention pond the place the physique was discovered had beforehand been searched by authorities. WBTV additionally reported, citing authorities, {that a} toxicology report will take six months to finish, however no preliminary bodily proof was foul play was discovered.

Regardless of Giovanni’s household’s claims, as of Saturday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Workplace have but to verify the id of the physique, in line with WRAL.

The GoFundMe fundraiser for the Pelletier household has acquired over $21,000 in donations, exceeding its $15,000 aim.