Statewide Search Underway for Teen Missing After Incident on I-75 in Manatee County

Florida law enforcement agencies are actively searching for 18-year-old Giovonni Pelletier, who disappeared early Friday morning after reportedly walking away from a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Manatee County.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Pelletier had been visiting family in Englewood and left the area around 1:30 a.m. with his cousins, headed for Brevard County to visit additional relatives. During the drive northbound on I-75, near the State Road 70 exit in Manatee County, Pelletier reportedly began acting erratically, prompting him to exit the vehicle and walk away.

His cousins, who remained at the scene, notified authorities of his behavior and disappearance. Since then, law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, have joined the effort to locate him.

Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances of the incident or the individuals involved. Detectives continue to investigate and follow leads regarding Pelletier’s whereabouts.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 639-2101

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