Florida authorities announced on Sunday that further testing is needed to officially confirm that a body found last Friday belongs to a North Carolina man who disappeared earlier this month.
Giovanni Pelletier, aged 18, went missing on August 1 in Mims, reportedly after meeting with cousins from his estranged father’s family. According to WRAL, his body was found partially submerged in a retention pond in Manatee County two weeks later, close to the location where the last signal from the teen’s phone was detected.
The Sarasota Medical Examiner’s Office stated that while an autopsy did not show signs of foul play or trauma, more tests are needed to verify the body is Pelletier. Nonetheless, a preliminary investigation by the Manatee County police identified the body as Pelletier.
Pelletier was in Englewood with his mother’s fiancé’s family and had arranged for his cousins to take him to see other relatives in Brevard County. It’s alleged that the cousins said Pelletier started acting “erratically” before unexpectedly exiting the vehicle near State Road 70 in Manatee County.
However, according to reports, about 20 minutes into the journey, Pelletier texted his mother a message saying, “Help me,” as reported by WTVT. Similar texts were sent to other family members.
Before the body was discovered, Pelletier’s backpack and cellphone were found near where he was last seen.
Investigators suspect that the body had been in the pond for several days before surfacing. Due to the body’s advanced decomposition state, the medical examiner has called for more detailed testing.
In addition to a positive identification, a cause and manner of death are pending toxicology results and more investigation.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
