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

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1954407819903475774

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Positive identification is pending further testing. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday,” reads a Manatee County Sheriff’s Department press release, which notes the cause of death is not known.

The body was discovered in a retention pond at the southbound off-ramp of Interstate 75 and SR 70, the release states. That was not far from where Pelletier’s backpack had been found. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article311648107.html

Bridgette said she is "living every parent’s worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves."

Body found in search for teen who vanished after sending chilling text, mum says

A frantic search for Giovanni lasted several days with a multitude of agencies involved in the search. Officers were assisted by live-scent and cadaver K9s, Aviation units and drones

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Chimera]

Sounds legit, I really feel for his family. It looks like they are a pretty close knit bunch. When things went bad Mom’s the first person he texts. Its sad that they found him deceased but its good they found him. Now, may God help them to find out exactly what happened

Thanks for the link, @Keleah !
From the link :

• Authorities have discovered a body near the area where missing teen Giovanni Pelletier was last seen in Florida
• The 18-year-old has been missing since Aug. 1
• Giovanni's mother said her son expressed interest in reconnecting with paternal relatives and arranged to be picked up by some of them before he disappeared

@PayrollNerd : It sounds like from the link I quoted, that LE found him ?
Although I've read other versions as well.

Very sad if the family's friends found him, they should have had support from Manatee County from the beginning !!
Imo.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Thanks for the link, @Keleah !
From the link :

• Authorities have discovered a body near the area where missing teen Giovanni Pelletier was last seen in Florida
• The 18-year-old has been missing since Aug. 1
• Giovanni's mother said her son expressed interest in reconnecting with paternal relatives and arranged to be picked up by some of them before he disappeared

@PayrollNerd : It sounds like from the link I quoted, that LE found him ?
Although I've read other versions as well.

Very sad if the family's friends found him, they should have had support from Manatee County from the beginning !!
Imo.

Here is the mother’s quote in this article. Fox News is reporting the same quote but they’re not an approved link now. I’m local and had heard initially Manatee County did not believe Gio was in the area. But the family never gave up hope and had their own helpers. Then of course Manatee County takes credit…… JMO

Snip
In a post on Facebook on Saturday, family members said they were the ones who found Giovanni.

"My son was recently found after a desperate search by our family alone, and we are still facing an active investigation into his death," Bridgette Pelletier, his mom, wrote. "I am living every parent's worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves."

Mom says body found in Florida pond is her missing son

The mother of Giovanni Pelletier confirmed that the body found near the area where his cellphone was last pinged is indeed Giovanni, according to a Facebook post.

www.wral.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

IMO she meant the father’s side did not help at all with the search. LE then found Giovanni.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

IMO she meant the father’s side did not help at all with the search. LE then found Giovanni.

But this article says he was found by a PI group hired by the family...

Body of missing North Carolina 18-year-old found in Florida pond, family says

The body of a North Carolina 18-year-old who disappeared while on vacation in Florida has been found, the family said.

6abc.com

 

[nao]

Moo...I also remember reading, that it was family that found him. My memory is he was found in area near his backpack. The police had searched that area, but did not find him. The family returned to area and his body was found....moo

 

[Vern_S]

For the first 2-3 days, a body in water at this temperature will be at the bottom of the pond and can only be found by searching in the pond with sonar, divers, or several searchers on an inflatable boat using poles. After a few days of decomposition, the body will become buoyant and float to the surface and be visible from the edge of the pond. This is probably the case here.

 

[FoxxTraxx]

But this article says he was found by a PI group hired by the family...

Body of missing North Carolina 18-year-old found in Florida pond, family says

The body of a North Carolina 18-year-old who disappeared while on vacation in Florida has been found, the family said.

6abc.com

I wonder - if the fact a representative for Giovanni's family found his body will create problems in an investigation? I can almost hear a defense attorney saying the crime scene was tampered with or evidence was altered if foul play is suspected.

 

[Dotta]

So...

The boy was found in the lake/body of water that had been previously searched by Police, right?

Maybe his body was moved there after Police left?

I still don't get how this tragedy happened.
I need to read all posts as I only skimmed the article I posted earlier.

Was the boy killed?
Why did his cousins leave him in the middle of nowhere at night??
And why were his things left at the edge of the road?

SMH in bewilderment.

 

[Leilei]

So...

The boy was found in the lake/body of water that had been previously searched by Police, right?

Maybe his body was moved there after Police left?

I still don't get how this tragedy happened.
I need to read all posts as I only skimmed the article I posted earlier.

Was the boy killed?
Why did his cousins leave him in the middle of nowhere at night??
And why were his things left at the edge of the road?

SMH in bewilderment.

As awful as it sounds, he may have been at the bottom of the body of water.
After some time, he would have floated to the surface.
I hate this for him and his loved ones.
IMO.

 

[Vern_S]

It's reported that they are performing an Autopsy today. Should know more soon about the cause of death and if foul-play is suspected.

 

[SimplyCass]

So...

The boy was found in the lake/body of water that had been previously searched by Police, right?

Maybe his body was moved there after Police left?

I still don't get how this tragedy happened.
I need to read all posts as I only skimmed the article I posted earlier.

Was the boy killed?
Why did his cousins leave him in the middle of nowhere at night??
And why were his things left at the edge of the road?

SMH in bewilderment.

Probably not moved...just at the bottom, and floated up after a few days. That's based on river currents, body weight adn height of the decedent, and physical position (could have been 'stuck' a branch or something).

Sometimes this can be calculated, like in Riley Strain; although it took 2+ weeks for his body to be found, it was within the time range that authorities had estimated.

 

[GraceG]

Probably not moved...just at the bottom, and floated up after a few days. That's based on river currents, body weight adn height of the decedent, and physical position (could have been 'stuck' a branch or something).

Sometimes this can be calculated, like in Riley Strain; although it took 2+ weeks for his body to be found, it was within the time range that authorities had estimated.

Yes, and very well explained. I've formal training in human remains identifcation (land and water). It's actually normal for the body to sink for several days, and if the water is murky (especially if there is normal aquatic plantlife) it's common for a body to be missed on initial searches. After a few day, as the decomoposition processs progresses and gases are formed from bacterial activity, the body will typically surface unless entangled or the buoyancy is altered by clothing or personal effects.

 

[Vern_S]

Yes, and very well explained. I've formal training in human remains identifcation (land and water). It's actually normal for the body to sink for several days, and if the water is murky (especially if there is normal aquatic plantlife) it's common for a body to be missed on initial searches. After a few day, as the decomoposition processs progresses and gases are formed from bacterial activity, the body will typically surface unless entangled or the buoyancy is altered by clothing or personal effects.

I search those retention ponds in Florida quite a bit. They are murky and full of vegetation. Visibility is near zero.

 

[Breezyflavor]

Hey guys, just sharing some info. Thanks for posting and participating in the discussion

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[PayrollNerd]

https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/manatee-county/autopsy-finds-no-foul-play-in-body-believed-to-be-missing-teen/

Snip
The medical examiner reported that no trauma was uncovered during the autopsy. However, the cause and manner of death are still pending toxicology results and further investigation.

 

[wendybtn]

Decomposing body found in search for missing teen Giovanni Pelletier who sent chilling final ‘Mom, help’ text

“I am living every parent’s worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves,” mom Bridgette Pelletier wrote.

nypost.com

 

[Gemmie]

The family shares.

Body of missing North Carolina 18-year-old found in Florida pond, family says

The body of a North Carolina 18-year-old who disappeared while on vacation in Florida has been found, the family said.

6abc.com

This not the outcome I, or anyone hoped for. Not by far.

RIP Giovanni.

 

[Vern_S]

Hey guys, just sharing some info. Thanks for posting and participating in the discussion

VERIFIED PROFESSIONALS and CASE INSIDERS

We are lucky enough to have posters from all walks of life with a broad spectrum of expertise. Some hold specialized knowledge that applies to the various circumstances of the cases we discuss, and can contribute valuable insight and information. We welcome their participation.

To ensure that anyone posting as a "professional" in a specific field truly is what/who they claim to be, WS employs a verification process.

The verification process also applies to "case insiders". Relatives, friends, and others personally acquainted with a victim or a suspect; or a professional working on behalf of a victim or the family, (i.e., a private investigator), can submit a request to be verified as a "case insider".

If you would like to become verified, please contact [email protected] with your Websleuths name, your real name, the case, a telephone number, and the times when you can be reached.

If you are a "professional" or "case insider", but would prefer not to be verified, please understand that you will be required to follow the general rules for posting, and back up your statements with links to appropriate sources.

I have sent an email for professional verification.