A North Carolina man found dead in a pond in August had accidentally drowned, Florida officials said.
The Manatee County Medical Examiner also noted there were marks on Giovanni Pelletier, 18, that were “consistent with alligator scavenging.” Coroners also cited video footage, which they said showed Pelletier alone in the area where police found him deceased on August 8, according to WWSB.
Pelletier and his mother’s family were vacationing in Englewood when he planned for his cousins to take him to meet more of his family. Pelletier, last seen in Mims, reportedly vanished near State Road 70 in Manatee County.
Pelletier’s cousins said he had been acting erratically during the car ride before he randomly exited the vehicle.
However, Pelletier reportedly sent his mother a text reading, “Mom help,” about 20 minutes into the car ride. He allegedly sent similar messages to other family members.
Before a family friend found his body, Pelletier’s backpack and cellphone were found near his last spotted location on August 1, according to FOX 13.
Detectives believe Pelletier’s body had been in the retention pond for days before it floated to the surface.
According to People Magazine, trace amounts of ethanol were found in Pelletier’s liver tissue — but the medical examiner said it was “consistent with decomposition.”
The autopsy report also stated that he had an “extremely rare congenital coronary artery abnormality” that is “disproportionately associated with heart failure or sudden cardiac death, particularly during physical exertion.”
“Although the contributions of possible toxicologic substances not found during testing, and the coronary artery abnormality cannot be completely excluded, in view of these findings, it is my opinion that the cause of death is most likely drowning,” officials concluded.
Early on, authorities said they did not suspect foul play in Pelletier’s death. The medical examiner used dental records to identify Pelletier.
No arrests have been made.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Handout]
