- - 'Mom, help': Missing teen sends text before disappearing on vacation

Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY August 9, 2025 at 12:13 AM

A North Carolina family is searching for an 18-year-old who went missing more than a week ago while on vacation out of state.

Giovanni Pelletier was on the trip with his family in Englewood, Florida, on Aug. 1 when he decided to visit other relatives about three hours away in Brevard County at around 1:30 a.m., according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.

Pelletier was riding north on I-75 along with his cousins when they said the teen "suddenly began to act erratically before exiting the vehicle" near Manatee County, the sheriff's office stated.

In a GoFundMe, the family described his disappearance as "deeply troubling and suspicious."

Teen sent a text to his mother before his disappearance

The fundraiser says that Pelletier's mother last heard from him in a text, in which he wrote, "Mom, help."

Speaking to ABC News, his aunt, Desiree, said that he also sent similar messages to his grandfather and another aunt.

Missing People: A man had been missing since 1997 in Utah. Then, a foot was found.

Search underway for missing teen

According to Florida Today, part of USA TODAY Network, a truck recovered his belongings, a cellphone and a backpack, near Bradenton.

Earlier this week, loved ones gathered in a wooded area in Mims, in Brevard, to search for the teen after receiving an anonymous tip.

'Our heart'

The GoFundMe has raised nearly $15,000 of its $20,000 goal as of Friday morning, Aug. 8.

It describes Pelletier as "smart, kind and full of life." According to Fox 13, the family is pleading for his return, offering a $25,000 reward for any information.

"We understand there are a lot of people who may be scared to speak up, or maybe there aren’t people who are willing to relay information, but this isn’t just a missing person," his mother, Bridgette, told the news station. "This is our heart, and he’s part of our family."

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is working with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on this investigation.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office for more information.

Contributing: J.D. Gallop, Florida Today

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing teen Giovanni Pelletier disappears on vacation in Florida

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