BRADENTON, Fla. — Authorities in Manatee County have provided additional insights into the tragic case of Giovanni Pelletier, an 18-year-old from North Carolina whose body was recently found in a retention pond in the area.
What You Need To Know
- Giovanni Pelletier was last seen on Aug. 1 near Interstate 75 in Manatee County. His body was discovered days later in a retention pond in that same vicinity.
- The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reported that Pelletier was traveling with his cousin and two friends en route to visit family in Brevard County on July 31.
- The case is still under investigation as authorities await results from the medical examiner concerning the cause of death. Currently, foul play is not suspected.
On July 31, Pelletier was reported to be in a car with family and friends when he exhibited unusual behavior. Witnesses noted that he had been smoking marijuana and was in possession of a knife. Later that day, he exited the vehicle and began running south on I-75, marking the last known sighting of him.
Investigators confirmed that traffic cameras from the Florida Department of Transportation captured footage of Pelletier running toward the retention pond, the location where his body was ultimately found.
Officials from the sheriff’s office reiterated that there was no foul play and that Pelletier had not been pursued by anyone. A family friend discovered his remains on Aug. 8, and the following day, authorities confirmed his identity.
“There is no one in this area with Giovanni. There is no one that is chasing him. He is by himself,” Sheriff Rick Wells stated. “What we don’t know is what happened when he hit that pond. I don’t know, and I don’t want to speculate. The death is undetermined.”
The sheriff’s office aims to provide the family with closure as investigations continue, pending results regarding the cause of death and toxicology reports.
Article original publish date: 2025-08-19 19:10:00
Article source: baynews9.com
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