Manatee County deputies share new insights into the circumstances surrounding Giovanni Pelletier’s death.

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities have disclosed new insights and footage regarding the case of Giovanni Pelletier, an 18-year-old from North Carolina whose body was discovered in a retention pond in Manatee County.

During a press conference, Sheriff Rick Wells recounted the night Pelletier went missing on Aug. 1. He was riding along I-75 with his cousin and friends after being picked up in Charlotte County, where they were en route to Brevard County.

Wells stated that the group began smoking marijuana during the drive, leading to a negative reaction in Pelletier.

After Pelletier’s cousin noted that he was becoming unruly, the car stopped. Deputies reported that Pelletier eventually calmed down and re-entered the vehicle.

One friend in the car recounted that Pelletier claimed, “I am a demon, and I will wreck this car,” while he attempted to open the vehicle doors and made threats against his friends.

Though Pelletier had a knife during this incident, he did not use it.

Eventually, the car pulled over once more. Pelletier exited and began to run along the southbound lanes of I-75, nearly colliding with an oncoming truck, marking the last sighting by his cousin and friends.

His cousin called Pelletier’s mother, Bridgette, around 2:30 a.m., but she didn’t answer. After continuing their journey to Brevard County, the cousin reached out again just before 7 a.m. and explained the situation.

Bridgette then contacted 911 to initiate a wellness check at the location where her son had exited the vehicle.

No immediate clues were found at the scene. However, tracking Pelletier’s phone showed it was moving towards Tampa. A truck driver later discovered a backpack and cellphone in that vicinity.

Authorities managed to locate the driver, recover the belongings, and subsequently opened a missing persons case.

Sadly, Pelletier’s body was found in the retention pond on Aug. 8 and was confirmed to be him the following day.

At the press conference, MCSO displayed new footage that illustrates Pelletier’s movements leading up to where he was last seen near the retention pond.

A traffic camera captured Pelletier trying to cross the highway near where his cousin described him leaving the vehicle, subsequently falling towards an embankment.

A camera from a nearby Lowe’s showed him running down the embankment swiftly before he vanished from view.

Deputies noted that what occurred when he reached the pond remains unknown.

“There’s no one in this area with Giovanni,” Sheriff Wells said. “There’s no one that’s chasing him. He’s by himself.”

Authorities are still waiting for an official cause of death and a toxicology report, and no charges have been filed in this case.