Fuquay-Varina Teen Missing in Florida After Sending Chilling ‘Help Me’ Texts to Family

FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. — A Wake County family is desperately searching for their missing 18-year-old son, who vanished under suspicious circumstances during a trip to Florida.

Giovanni “Gio” Pelletier (right), described by loved ones as smart, kind, and full of life, disappeared in the early hours of Aug. 1 while vacationing in Englewood, Florida. His family fears foul play and says his last messages before vanishing were chilling pleas for help.

A Family Trip Turns Into a Search Mission

Pelletier, a recent Fuquay-Varina High School graduate, was visiting Florida with his mother, Bridgette, and her fiancé, Jeremy Brown. Hoping to reconnect with relatives from his biological father’s side, Pelletier arranged to meet three cousins late at night on Aug. 1 for a drive to their home in Mims, Florida.

About 20 minutes after leaving with the cousins, near Sarasota, Pelletier texted his mother: “Mom, help me.” Similar messages were sent to his grandfather and another aunt — but none were followed by further contact.

Conflicting Accounts Raise More Questions

When Pelletier’s mother saw the missed calls and messages the next morning, she immediately called the police. The cousins told investigators the group had been smoking marijuana when Pelletier began acting erratically and pulled out a knife, prompting them to leave him on the roadside.

His family disputes this account. “That’s not Gio,” his aunt, Desiree Pelletier, said. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would he say ‘Help me’ to three different people?”

Pelletier’s backpack and phone were found abandoned in Bradenton, Florida, about an hour from where he was staying.

A verified GoFundMe page has been set up by the family to help cover search efforts and related expenses.

Desperate Search Continues

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve received “many, many tips” — all of which have turned out to be false leads. The family, meanwhile, continues searching, driven by the hope of bringing him home.

“We love him and want him home… as a family, we can’t function normally. We’re not doing well right now,” Desiree Pelletier said through tears.

$10,000 Reward for Information

The family is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Giovanni Pelletier’s whereabouts. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office immediately.