Missing Teen’s Distress Call from Florida Vacation

A teenager who went missing during a vacation in Florida sent a text message that simply stated, “Help me,” according to reports from ABC News.

The 18-year-old, Giovanni Peretier, was on holiday with his mother and fiancée in Englewood, Florida, with plans to visit a cousin on his father’s side. His cousin picked him up around 1:30 AM on August 1st, and they traveled to Mimus, Florida, which is about three hours away. Just twenty-five minutes into the drive, he texted his mother asking for help.

In addition to his mother, Peretier reached out to his grandfather and aunt for assistance. After failing to hear back from him, his mother contacted authorities and his cousins. The cousin mentioned that they had been smoking marijuana when Peretier began to panic and pulled out a knife. He also noted that Peretier was “acting irregularly” before getting out of the vehicle, as reported by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

Desirie Peretier, Giovanni’s aunt, publicly expressed her concerns, stating that she suspects something is seriously wrong with her nephew. “Something’s wrong. Something happened,” she said.

She also voiced her worries about the inconsistencies in the account provided by the individuals involved, questioning why there were changes to the narrative. “Why is it okay to say this is what happened and then claim they’ve changed it? Plus, someone lied about their names too?” she told reporters.

Authorities located his mother’s phone, which last pinged near a highway in Manatee County. A truck driver reportedly found a bag on the roadside and handed it to the police, according to his aunt.

Giovanni Peretier was last seen driving a white Chevrolet Malibu. His family is offering a $25,000 reward for any information regarding his whereabouts.