Teen missing for 1 week after going on vacation in Florida found dead

Eighteen-year-old Giovanni Pelletier from North Carolina, who went missing on Aug. 1 while visiting relatives in Florida, was found dead a week later in a retention pond in Bradenton, Florida. Pelletier disappeared after texting his mother “Help me” shortly after leaving with cousins for a three‑hour drive. His body was identified through dental records, but the cause of death remains pending toxicology results. Authorities are investigating the circumstances, with no signs of foul play reported so far, ABC News has reported. The family described Pelletier as “smart, kind, and full of life” and said they are devastated by the loss.