Missing teen vanishes after texting ‘help me’ to mother

BRADENTON, Fla. - The search continues for 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier, who texted ‘help me' to his mother and vanished while traveling with his cousin and friends to visit relatives across the state. 

Disappearance of Giovanni Pelletier

The backstory:

Pelletier was on vacation in Englewood with family from North Carolina when he left around 1:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, to go visit relatives on Florida’s east coast.

He got into a vehicle with a cousin from his biological father’s side of the family, along with two of the cousin's friends, but according to relatives, Giovanni had never met the men in person. He had only spoken to one cousin on the phone before.

After reconnecting with his biological father’s side of the family, Pelletier made plans for his cousins to pick him up to see additional family in Brevard County.

"Prior to even coming down to Florida, he had been talking to his cousins for weeks on Facetime," said Jeremy Brown, who considers Pelletier his son.

"He’s been super excited. That night, he was supposed to be picked up early before dinner, and he had his backpack on him. In the house, just sitting by the door. Just like a kid waiting to go to kindergarten," said Brown. 

It was a time meant to reconnect with his biological father’s side of the family, but more questions than answers remain after Pelletier has gone missing. 

RELATED: Search underway for missing 18-year-old last seen in Manatee County

Roughly 25 minutes into the trip, Pelletier sent a chilling message to his mother: "Help me." He also messaged other family members with similar pleas. That was the last time anyone heard from him.

His cousins told Brevard County deputies Pelletier began acting erratically before exiting the vehicle and walking away near State Road 70 in Manatee County. 

His backpack and phone were the only items found. 

What they're saying:

"Everyone we have interviewed - their story is consistent throughout. Not just the three boys but also family members, timeline, everything else," Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey said on Friday morning. 

Sheriff Ivey said the family willingly turned over the vehicle to be processed.

"They said take it, do whatever you need to do. The crime scene went through it and there was no evidence of wrongdoing," said Sheriff Ivey. 

The sheriff added, "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 is the lead agency with the investigation.

They told FOX 13 in a statement:

"We have no information that we can share about the investigation or efforts to locate Giovanni. Everything we can release was in our original Facebook post. The message we would like to put out is that 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."

The search for Giovanni Pelletier

Dig deeper:

On Friday, one week after he disappeared, Pelletier’s family and friends searched for him off of River Road in Sarasota County.

They tried to retrace the route they believe Pelletier and his cousins took one week ago. His family is offering a $25,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. 

Soaring temperatures and at times heavy thunderstorms did not stop Brown from searching.

"While there is light at, there are boots on the ground from sunup to sundown," he told FOX 13. 

He’s joined by friends, family and strangers. They searched anywhere and everywhere that came to mind.

"It’s been an up and down emotional time," Brown explained. 

Each day that passes, worry continues to grow for a family that just wants their son back. 

"It’s been very hard to not see him every day. It’s been the scariest time I’ve had in my whole life," said Brown. 

Ongoing search and call for video

What you can do:

Pelletier's family continues to search along with We Are the Essentials, a nonprofit comprised of retired law enforcement officers and private investigators, has been helping coordinate search efforts alongside Pelletier's family. They’re urging anyone who was driving on I-75 in the early morning hours of Aug. 1 to check their dashcam footage for the white Malibu or someone walking on or near the interstate.

The teen’s family wants to expand to water searches and are hopeful people with John-boats or kayaks can help. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number (941) 639-2101.