UPDATE Aug. 10, 6:04 p.m.:
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says the Medical Examiner's Office cannot positively identify the body found in the pond due to "the advanced state of decomposition." However, based on evidence at the scene, they believe it's Giovanni Pelletier.
According to the District 12 Medical Examiner Office, no foul play or trauma was found during the autopsy done on Aug. 10. The cause and manner of death are pending toxicology results and further investigation.
Detectives say they believe the body had been in the pond for multiple days before floating to the surface. According to the sheriff's office, previous searches of the area by law enforcement and volunteer search teams did not yield any signs of Pelletier.
A family member discovered the body while searching the area on Aug. 8. Deputies say the family member found what appeared to be a body partially submerged at the edge of the pond at approximately 3:15 p.m. and notified deputies, the sheriff's office said.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has been helping the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office since Pelletier was last seen on Aug. 1 on the east side of I-75 at State Road 70.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the discovery of the body.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
UPDATE Aug. 9, 4:27 p.m.:
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has "preliminarily" identified the body found in the pond as Giovanni Pelletier, the 18-year-old who has been missing since Aug. 1. The sheriff's office says this is based off of evidence collected at the scene.
Authorities say positive identification is pending further testing. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday to determine a cause of death.
UPDATE Aug. 8:
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says a male body was located in a pond alongside the interstate in the area where 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier was last seen.
Authorities have yet to identify the body. The investigation is ongoing.
Watch the latest from Scripps News Group reporter Chad Mills:
This week a nonprofit that looks for missing people issued an alert for a Critical Missing Person case after an 18-year-old traveling to Englewood disappeared.
We Are The Essentials said Giovanni Pelletier was last spotted on Aug. 1. He went missing while traveling with his family to Mims, Florida.
During an argument, Pelletier reportedly exited a vehicle near SR-70 in Manatee County. His phone and backpack were found about a half mile away near Bradenton along I-75.
We Are The Essentials said they are working in tandem with Pelletier's family and are engaged in a search effort.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said they are also searching for Pelletier.
Giovonni Pelletier was last seen around 1:30 a.m. on August 1 near State Road 70 in Manatee County, according to CCSO.
Deputies added that Pelletier was vacationing with his family in Englewood before leaving to visit relatives in Brevard County. While going north on I-75 with his cousins, they reported that Pelletier "suddenly began to act erratically" before exiting the vehicle and walking away.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is working with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on the investigation.
Deputies are asking the public to direct any tips to their local law enforcement agencies, who will then contact Charlotte County authorities if necessary.
"We sincerely appreciate the abundance of concerned citizens, but we are receiving many, many tips that unfortunately turn out to be inaccurate, which takes time away from the investigation," the sheriff's office said.
At 6:30pm on Friday The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Posted the below:
"Our detectives have collaborated with multiple agencies, including law enforcement and civilian non-profits, to search areas where Giovanni could be. These locations came from investigative efforts and other leads provided by countless individuals. It is important to note that every lead takes time to either verify or rule out, and we have received tips that indicated Giovanni was not only in other counties, but in other states altogether. Still, our efforts include partnering with a multitude of agencies to search with the assistance of live-scent and cadaver K9s, Aviation units, drones, and many, many interviews with parties that are involved or possibly had information as we continue this investigation."
Anyone with information on Pelletier's whereabouts is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number at 941-639-2101.
