Body found in search for teen who vanished after sending chilling text, mum says

Police have reportedly found a body in the search for missing 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier following a week-long search for the teen, his family have confirmed.

Giovanni vanished on Friday, August 1 while visiting Florida with his mother, Bridgette Pelletier, her fiancé, and his four sibling Bridgette, 34, told Peoplethat she saw chilling text messages when she woke up at around 6:20am, which read "Mom help".

A frantic search for Giovanni lasted several days with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office explaining in a statement how a multitude of agencies were involved in the search. Officers were assisted by live-scent and cadaver K9s, Aviation units and drones. It comes after reports of a dad's desperate phone call moments before explosion kills him and his daughters.

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But, in a heartbreaking update from his mum, it has been confirmed his body has now been found. Bridgette said she is "living every parent’s worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves."

A GoFundMe page was set up by his family raise money for a reward and resources for the search. It has a target of $15,000 and has already reached $23,606 in donations. The initial message on the page read: "Giovanni is smart, kind, and full of life. He didn’t deserve this. Our family is devastated, terrified, and doing everything in our power to bring him home."

The most recent update on the GoFundMe page was shared yesterday by his mum gave a heartbreaking update on the search.

Bridgette's message reads: "My son was recently found after a desperate search by our family alone, and we are still facing an active investigation into his death. I am living every parent’s worst nightmare, trying to find the strength to give him the goodbye he deserves. Any funds raised now will provide crucial support to cover funeral, medical, and legal costs as we struggle to honour his memory through this unimaginable heartbreak."

The Mirror has contatced the Manatee County Sheriff's Office for comment.

You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.