SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Nonprofit search group We Are The Essentials has joined in on the search for missing teen Giovanni Pelletier.
Thursday marked the group’s fourth day of searching. They’ve covered ground in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties so far.
The 18-year-old hasn’t been seen since Aug. 1.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office reports that the teenager was on vacation with his family in Englewood and intended to visit more relatives in Brevard County early on August 1.
We Are The Essentials, a supportive organization, has maintained close communication with his family, who are frantically searching for any indications of the teen’s whereabouts. Volunteer and licensed private investigator Shelley Croft stated that the teen’s mother received a distressing text shortly after Giovanni departed with his cousins.
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Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson) -
Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson) -
Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson) -
Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson) -
Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson) -
Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier (Credit: Kristie Johnson)
“Three cousins from Mims picked him up,” Croft explained. “He was interested in getting acquainted with this side of the family he hadn’t met in person before. They had only interacted through texts and FaceTime. When they reached Englewood, they picked him up, and 21 minutes after leaving, he texted his mom ‘Mom help me.’
The cousins informed Charlotte County deputies that while driving north on Interstate 75, Giovanni started behaving erratically and eventually exited the vehicle, walking away near the State Road 70 area in Manatee County.
Croft said the teens cell phone and backpack were located in that area, but no signs of the teen.
Giovanni’s mother said he texted her and other family members that night.
“He’s not the type of kid who causes unnecessary stress,” stated Bridgette Pelletier. “He avoids creating problems and usually attempts to resolve issues himself before asking for help. This situation affects more than just one person. Gio has a significant impact on everyone connected to him, prompting countless strangers and acquaintances to join together in the search. His presence is truly illuminating.”
Search parties have been going on all week across the state, including in Mims in Brevard County, which was supposed to be the teen’s destination.
We Are The Essentials planned to continue searching until they exhaust all efforts and resources.
“This situation is very urgent,” Croft remarked. “We are in dire need to locate him. As a nonprofit, we’re attending to this while managing our own livelihoods, striving to maintain operations with the resources at our disposal.”
The group searched near River Road and Interstate 75 in Sarasota County Thursday, but plans to continue searching near where Giovanni’s belongings were found in Manatee County.
They’re asking for anyone with a dashcam to check their footage from Aug. 1 and keep and eye out for a white Chevy Malibu.
“That may be able to help us narrow down timeline of when they were at a certain locations and when Giovanni got out of the vehicle and if he was still in it at that point,” Croft said.
The teen’s family was supposed to travel back to North Carolina this past weekend, but tell News Channel 8 they will continue searching until they find Giovanni.
“They are obviously stressed,” Croft said. “They are missing their child and she will go to the end of the Earth to find her child. I can’t blame her. It doesn’t matter how old your child is, everybody deserves those answers. They are desperate at this point and have actually increased their reward for his recovery or find to $25,000.”
Anyone with tips is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.
