On a humid Florida night in the early hours of August 1, 2025, what should have been a joyful family reunion turned into a nightmare for the Pelletier family. Giovanni Pelletier, an 18-year-old from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, vanished under mysterious circumstances while traveling to visit relatives on Florida’s east coast. One week later, his family, friends, and local authorities are still searching—clinging to hope and desperate for answers.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Giovanni was vacationing in Englewood, Florida, with his family when he decided to visit relatives in Brevard County. Around 1:30 a.m., he left with a cousin from his biological father’s side and two of the cousin’s friends. Giovanni had never met the two friends in person, and had only spoken to the cousin on the phone prior to this trip, as reported by FOX 13 News. His stepfather, Jeremy Brown, described the young man’s anticipation: “He had his backpack on, just in the house sitting by the door, almost like a kid waiting to go to kindergarten. He was just smiling and so happy to be able to go meet up and rekindle anything from his father’s side of the family.”
But the excitement quickly turned to fear. Roughly 25 minutes into the drive north on I-75, near State Road 70 in Manatee County, Giovanni began acting erratically. His cousins told investigators that he abruptly exited the vehicle and started walking away along the interstate. That was the last time anyone saw him.
Before leaving the car, Giovanni managed to send a chilling text message to his mother, grandfather, and aunt. The message simply read, “Help me.” According to ABC News, this was the last contact his mother received from her son. The text, sent in the dark of night, set off a frantic search that has spanned multiple counties and mobilized both law enforcement and volunteers.
Authorities from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, have been leading the investigation. The search has been exhaustive, covering areas in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. Giovanni’s cell phone and backpack were found near the spot where he left the vehicle, but there has been no sign of him since.
Private investigator Shelley Croft, part of the nonprofit group We Are the Essentials, described the urgency of the search: “That’s why we are so dire right now for just trying to determine the location where Giovanni exited the vehicle. If we knew that information, we could find him.” The group, comprised of retired law enforcement officers and private investigators, has been working closely with the Pelletier family, combing through fields, wooded areas, and roadside ditches from sunup to sundown.
“While there is light at, there are boots on the ground from sunup to sundown,” Jeremy Brown told FOX 13 News, emphasizing the relentless effort. Despite soaring temperatures and heavy thunderstorms, searchers have refused to give up. Friends, family, and even strangers have joined in, hoping to find any clue that could lead to Giovanni’s safe return.
For Giovanni’s family, the past week has been agonizing. “The past seven days has been, there’s been nothing else in my life, it’s been the scariest time I’ve ever had in my whole life,” Brown shared with WFLA. Each day that passes, their worry deepens. Giovanni’s neighbors in Fuquay-Varina have also expressed their concern and support. Edward Weinholt, a neighbor, told CBS 17, “When somebody disappears like that and there might be some problem with it, that’s—you know, you feel for the people and you wish them well and wish them the best.”
Authorities have processed the vehicle Giovanni was traveling in and interviewed all individuals involved. Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated, “Everyone we have interviewed—their story is consistent throughout. Not just the three boys but also family members, timeline, everything else.” He added, “They said take it, do whatever you need to do. The crime scene went through it and there was no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Despite the lack of evidence pointing to foul play, law enforcement remains deeply concerned. Sheriff Ivey remarked, “There’s great concern for this young man’s safety especially as time goes on. Someone disappearing just off the face of the earth is difficult to do.” The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office echoed this sentiment, urging anyone with information to come forward: “If anyone knows anything about where this young man is, please contact your local law enforcement so we can find him. Our thoughts are with everyone who knows Giovanni and we are all praying for a safe return.”
In an effort to expand the search, Giovanni’s family has offered a $25,000 reward for any information leading to his whereabouts. They are also asking the public for help in other ways. Authorities are urging anyone who was driving on I-75 in the early morning hours of August 1 to check their dashcam footage for a white Malibu or someone walking near the interstate. The family hopes to expand search efforts to nearby water areas and has called on boat owners—especially those with John-boats or kayaks—to assist in scanning local waterways.
As the search enters its second week, the Pelletier family continues to hold onto hope. The outpouring of support from the community, local law enforcement, and volunteer organizations has been a source of comfort, but the pain of not knowing is ever-present. The search for Giovanni has united people across county lines and backgrounds, all driven by the same goal: bringing a missing young man home.
Anyone with information about Giovanni Pelletier’s disappearance is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at (941) 639-2101 or reach out to their local law enforcement agency. Every tip, no matter how small, could be the key to solving this distressing mystery.
The days since Giovanni’s disappearance have been marked by uncertainty and anguish, but also by the resilience and determination of those who love him. As the investigation continues, the Pelletier family and their supporters remain steadfast, refusing to give up until Giovanni is found.