Remains of Missing Teen Discovered in Florida

The body of Giovanni Pelletier, an 18-year-old who vanished after a trip to Florida, has been found submerged in a retention pond near I-75. His remains were identified on Saturday by authorities.

Giovanni was last seen on August 1, after he set out on a road trip with his cousins to visit his father’s family in Brevard County. During the journey, the teens reported Giovanni acting strangely, pulling over when he pulled out a knife. Giovanni sent two distress messages to his mother, including one pleading, “Mom, help,” and attempted to contact her via call and FaceTime, as well as reaching out to other relatives.

His backpack and phone were later located by the roadside. Despite previous searches of the swampy area near State Road 70 where the body was eventually found, it was uncovered by a private investigation team hired by his family.

Authorities have preliminarily identified the remains as Giovanni, pending further testing. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday to determine the cause of death.

The teen’s mother expressed her anguish and frustration on social media, revealing that Giovanni’s body was discovered in a swampy region by a private investigator after a desperate family search. She also criticized her son’s cousins for not doing enough to find him, describing her experience as “living every parent’s worst nightmare” as she struggles to find closure.