Found Deceased Giovanni Pelletier, 18, has been missing in Englewood, Florida August 01 2025

[Quill]

But...
Who leaves somebody at such a place in the middle of the night?
Stranded...
In unfamiliar surroundings.
With ponds nearby.
Next to the highway.
Is this family???

JMO

This. Who just leaves anyone, much less a younger cousin, in that situation? It's not okay under any circumstances.

 

[Rose of Sharon]

Giovanni was vacationing with family in Englewood, Florida, when he left early Friday morning, August 1, 2025, to meet relatives in Mims, Florida. He was picked up around 1:30 a.m. by individuals from his father’s side of the family - people he had never met in person, only spoken to by phone.
During the drive north on I-75, an argument reportedly occurred. Giovanni exited the vehicle near State Road 70 in Manatee County and has not been seen since.
Shortly after, at 1:51 a.m., Giovanni sent his mother a chilling text that simply read:
“Help me mom.”
That was the last time anyone heard from him.
His phone and backpack were later found about half a mile up the road, reportedly by a truck driver near Bradenton, Florida.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this case with assistance from Brevard County authorities.
If you have any information on Giovanni Pelletier’s whereabouts, please call the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 639-2101. You can also contact your local authorities.

Very sad ending for this young man.

 

[AngTxGal]

IMO, he floated to the surface after a few days and anyone could find him once he surfaced.

It sure seems like a Duh Moment for LE in my opinion-

Simple logic would say he was near his belongings and had been in that point the entire time.
He sunk and then floated several days later.
This would be consistent with the cousin’s story.
So can LE say they did an extensive search of that small pond? Or not?

If LE can’t say they extensively searched and feel confident he wasn’t there- why can’t they?
Maybe they don’t have the funding to purchase better equipment and get training?

And so a more extensive search of a larger area with helicopters was necessary??

Just maybe LE in Florida, in a state that is covered in bodies of water and surrounded on three sides with water,
LE should have better equipment and training to search bodies of water??

Unless the autopsy shows he was moved, this is Duh Moment for Florida LE and funding

Someone likely bought laced pot, and he flipped out
If the cousins had called 911, he may have been found and not drowned.
And if LE had the equipment they would have found him the next day.

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

I remember,

Kiely Rodni, Truckee, California, 16 yr old left a party at a state park alone and drove her car into the lake. It was thought someone had gotten into her car, she was kidnapped, the search went on for weeks.
I think Aug or Sept of 2022

Her car was found in the lake by Adventures with Purpose- Jared I think. There was controversy because they showed the footage of the scuba diver who filmed as he swam around the car with her body in it. She was blurred but still, she had been down there weeks, it shook her family up.
I still remember the footage of her dad. After they found the car into the lake, he refused to leave the shore, he stood out there for hours and hours waiting for them to get what they needed to get the car out.
Heartbreaking

IMO

Yes and another controversy was that Adventures with Purpose also interviewed a young man, he said he had talked to Kiely, she had car trouble and called him, was with a guy in her car.
LE had said they had searched this near lake.
This tip supported why the search began at other lakes in the area and not at the one nearest to the party location.

Now we know…
Did she ever leave the state park party location on the lake? No
Did she have car trouble and call for road side assistance in the days after she went missing? No
She left the party, took a wrong turn and drove straight into the lake

So then ask yourself…
Who was the road side service guy? No idea, but not good actor.
Would it benefit Adventures with Purpose to not have begun the search in a different lake? They are paid based on donations, and the reward money. So, Yes.
Did they get clicks by posting underwater footage of the car- upside down with her body in it??

IMO the Adventures with Purpose seems to have exploited a grieving family with their “Dramatic Rescue” when weeks had gone by- it took them 20 min to find the car in the near lake
NewYorkPost Kiely Rodni

 

[Justice101]

It sure seems like a Duh Moment for LE in my opinion-

Simple logic would say he was near his belongings and had been in that point the entire time.
He sunk and then floated several days later.
This would be consistent with the cousin’s story.
So can LE say they did an extensive search of that small pond? Or not?

If LE can’t say they extensively searched and feel confident he wasn’t there- why can’t they?
Maybe they don’t have the funding to purchase better equipment and get training?

And so a more extensive search of a larger area with helicopters was necessary??



IMO

Who found the body is immaterial. Was it a crime or not is the key question.

 

[AngTxGal]

Who found the body is immaterial. Was it a crime or not is the key question.

I hear your opinion, and see that your avatar is that of LE, but that doesn’t mean I agree.
It would be a bit ridiculous to find out LE in Florida do not have the tools they need to do water searches well. The state is about 20% water and is a peninsula.
This would certainly help them get what they need to do water searches, and fend off alligators while doing so.

It may not matter to LE who, how, or even when the body was found.

His mom wondered and worried and didn’t sleep for a week- and in her state of insanity wanted to search where she thought he may be… where she had located his bags using the location of his phone.
It was his family who found him during their search, saw him in the pond.
All of that matters to the mom

Tampa10- Family wants answers

If she is angry enough, it will become everbody’s problem.

IMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

Just an FYI regarding water equipment availability to LE. FL counties have a small boat with a motor to check waterways. If what they need isn’t available, Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) will help too.

If the need for volunteers arises, boaters here respond quickly. It’s not unusual for people to pull up with all terrain vehicles, 4 wheelers, their jet skis, boats, drones, etc and assist LE.

Sometimes the investigation doesn’t warrant putting a boat in the water immediately. Ground searches, coordination of water rescue crews, divers, particularly divers needed for gator deflection, etc take a minute to get set up and on location. There’s also the Marine Patrol out there regularly. I swear every time I’m on Lido Beach, they patrol by. Probably to ensure I’m being a good girl, ha!

What We Do

What We Do

myfwc.com

 

[Vern_S]

It sure seems like a Duh Moment for LE in my opinion-

Simple logic would say he was near his belongings and had been in that point the entire time.
He sunk and then floated several days later.
This would be consistent with the cousin’s story.
So can LE say they did an extensive search of that small pond? Or not?

If LE can’t say they extensively searched and feel confident he wasn’t there- why can’t they?
Maybe they don’t have the funding to purchase better equipment and get training?

And so a more extensive search of a larger area with helicopters was necessary??

Just maybe LE in Florida, in a state that is covered in bodies of water and surrounded on three sides with water,
LE should have better equipment and training to search bodies of water??

Unless the autopsy shows he was moved, this is Duh Moment for Florida LE and funding

Someone likely bought laced pot, and he flipped out
If the cousins had called 911, he may have been found and not drowned.
And if LE had the equipment they would have found him the next day.

IMO

"LE should have better equipment and training to search bodies of water??"

Yes, they should be better equipped and trained to search small bodies of water like retention ponds. Unfortunately, The only way they have to search is with a dive team, which is expensive to deploy, so they only deploy the team if their is direct evidence pointing to the pond.

My search partner and I have developed numerous small remotely operated sonar search boats that we use to search small bodies of water such as retention ponds. The unit I just finished building and now use extensively in my searches can fit in the trunk of a car and weighs 25lbs. It can be rapidly disassembled/assembled and is backpack portable.

We are currently demonstrating and training various Public Safety agencies and our goal is to get as many of these units in the hands of LE and Rescue/Search Teams as possible in the near future.

Just wanted to show that a solution for LE and other agencies is in the works.

 

[AngTxGal]

"LE should have better equipment and training to search bodies of water??"

Yes, they should be better equipped and trained to search small bodies of water like retention ponds. Unfortunately, The only way they have to search is with a dive team, which is expensive to deploy, so they only deploy the team if their is direct evidence pointing to the pond.

Did they use a dive team in this case? I’m not seeing any reports of dive teams being employed.

How does the cost of a dive team compare to the cost of what they did?
A 50 mile radius search and the use of helicopters?
That pond is the size of a stock tank.

Wouldn’t his phone and backpack near the pond be pretty good evidence that pond could be where he is?

So did they decide to not search the pond thinking he would eventually float?

I realize now the goal would be to investigate if a crime was committed. I’m guessing a body that hasn’t been in a pond for a week would hold more valuable evidence than one that has?

Am I missing something here?

IMO

 

[Vern_S]

Did they use a dive team in this case? I’m not seeing any reports of dive teams being employed.

How does the cost of a dive team compare to the cost of what they did?
A 50 mile radius search and the use of helicopters?
That pond is the size of a stock tank.

Wouldn’t his phone and backpack near the pond be pretty good evidence that pond could be where he is?

So did they decide to not search the pond thinking he would eventually float?

I realize now the goal would be to investigate if a crime was committed. I’m guessing a body that hasn’t been in a pond for a week would hold more valuable evidence than one that has?

Am I missing something here?

IMO

They did not use a dive team.

For safety and liability reasons, deploying a dive team is a big deal. For every diver in the water there has to be a rescue diver ready to go in an emergency. They also have to have a fire/rescue unit and EMTs standing by. Searching a pond the size of a large swimming pool could take hours. In zero visibility, if a diver doesn't touch it, he doesn't find it.

I've been told that deploying an LEs dive team can cost $20k and up for each incident. For that money I can build several of my sonar units and have a pond searched by one person in 5-10 minutes.

 

[Justice101]

Any idea when we might get an autopsy report made public? Generally, Florida is pretty open for disclosing ongoing case information.

 

[Justice101]

I hear your opinion, and see that your avatar is that of LE, but that doesn’t mean I agree.
It would be a bit ridiculous to find out LE in Florida do not have the tools they need to do water searches well. The state is about 20% water and is a peninsula.
This would certainly help them get what they need to do water searches, and fend off alligators while doing so.

It may not matter to LE who, how, or even when the body was found.

His mom wondered and worried and didn’t sleep for a week- and in her state of insanity wanted to search where she thought he may be… where she had located his bags using the location of his phone.
It was his family who found him during their search, saw him in the pond.
All of that matters to the mom

Tampa10- Family wants answers

If she is angry enough, it will become everbody’s problem.

IMO

I guess we all have different perspectives on cases like this. I appreciate yours.

God knows, police are definitely not infallible. Sort of like the rest of us in our professions.

Many of these side issues should be addressed later when the case is resolved.

Just my opinion.

 

[Vern_S]

Any idea when we might get an autopsy report made public? Generally, Florida is pretty open for disclosing ongoing case information.

In the Law & Crime video I posted they said there were no signs of physical harm and they are now waiting on toxicology report.

 

[AngTxGal]

I guess we all have different perspectives on cases like this. I appreciate yours.

God knows, police are definitely not infallible. Sort of like the rest of us in our professions.

Many of these side issues should be addressed later when the case is resolved.

Just my opinion.

Agreed, and I am a mom and empathize with the suffering that has been her reality for every waking moment since she received that text.

I am also a person of science, so I know if a crime was committed that body seven days in a pond does not have the same evidentiary value as a body 10 hours in a pond. Especially in Florida.

All of us are human, we can only expect of others what we try to do ourselves and the grace to be always be human.
Best-

IMO

 

[FoxxTraxx]

Family of 18-year-old found dead in Bradenton pond calls for FBI investigation​

I can understand their grief but I don't see this being a case for the FBI. So far there is no evidence of it being a homicide although the investigation continues.

However, authorities say the investigation is far from over.

They're still working to find out why Giovanni got out of the car and how he ended up crossing several lanes of traffic before ending up in the retention pond. "Did he slide in there? There's a lot of theories of what could have happened," the sheriff's office spokesperson said. "Toxicology could be critical here...


WTSP News Giovanni Pelletier's Family Wants FBI

 

[kuromiiiilove]

Family of 18-year-old found dead in Bradenton pond calls for FBI investigation​

I can understand their grief but I don't see this being a case for the FBI. So far there is no evidence of it being a homicide although the investigation continues.

However, authorities say the investigation is far from over.

They're still working to find out why Giovanni got out of the car and how he ended up crossing several lanes of traffic before ending up in the retention pond. "Did he slide in there? There's a lot of theories of what could have happened," the sheriff's office spokesperson said. "Toxicology could be critical here...


WTSP News Giovanni Pelletier's Family Wants FBI

I was wondering if he was disoriented and slid in too. Those banks to the retention ponds off the side of highways are pretty steep here.

 

[AngTxGal]

Family of 18-year-old found dead in Bradenton pond calls for FBI investigation​

I can understand their grief but I don't see this being a case for the FBI. So far there is no evidence of it being a homicide although the investigation continues.

However, authorities say the investigation is far from over.

They're still working to find out why Giovanni got out of the car and how he ended up crossing several lanes of traffic before ending up in the retention pond. "Did he slide in there? There's a lot of theories of what could have happened," the sheriff's office spokesperson said. "Toxicology could be critical here...


WTSP News Giovanni Pelletier's Family Wants FBI

Agree, unless it is laced pot, causing psychosis?
Have there been other incidents recently. Is it a batch of laced pot?

If it is a batch of laced pot that can cause psychosis then somebody needs to warn the public and track it down.
The FBI may help with such?

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Agree, unless it is laced pot, causing psychosis?
Have there been other incidents recently. Is it a batch of laced pot?

If it is a batch of laced pot that can cause psychosis then somebody needs to warn the public and track it down.
The FBI may help with such?

IMO

That's what I'm thinking it was. The situation went so bad so FAST.

I couldn't follow this case when he was missing because the news about his text message to his mom broke my heart. Now I can follow by dealing with "just the facts" of the case.

jmopinion

 

[AngTxGal]

That's what I'm thinking it was. The situation went so bad so FAST.

I couldn't follow this case when he was missing because the news about his text message to his mom broke my heart. Now I can follow by dealing with "just the facts" of the case.

jmopinion

I’m with you there, cases with kids twist my physical gut into a knot and keep me from sleeping

This may have a criminal element, who gave it to him, where did they get it, and following it back from there
Toxicology results usually come back pretty quick

His poor suffering Mom
IMO

 

[Justice101]

I was wondering if he was disoriented and slid in too. Those banks to the retention ponds off the side of highways are pretty steep here.

And sometimes dead vegetation makes them soggy and you sink down. But sometimes in Florida they are sandy bottoms. Regardless, that small retainer pond probably isn't more than 2 or 3 feet deep.