Body of missing North Carolina 18-year-old found in Florida pond, family says

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The body of Giovanni Pelletier, a North Carolina 18-year-old who disappeared while on vacation in Florida, has been found, the family told our Raleigh sister station, ABC11 Eyewitness News.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office reported that the body was discovered near where Giovanni's backpack was located.

The area, a retention pond at the southbound off-ramp of Interstate 75 and SR 70 in Manatee County, near Bradenton, had been searched by authorities the first day of search efforts.

However, the body was ultimately located by a private investigation group hired by the Pelletier family.

Authorities stated that no immediate physical evidence of foul play was found, but a toxicology report is expected to take six months to complete.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.