Suspect Charged In Relation To Missing Miami Teen In Gainesville
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Eighteen-year-old Pedro Bravo has been arrested and charged with depriving a victim of medical care for his part in the case of missing Miami teen Christian Aguilar, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
The charge is a third degree felony.
The last time anyone saw 18-year old Christian Aguilar was last Thursday around 6 p.m. when he reportedly got into a fight with 18-year old Pedro Bravo. According to Carlos Aguilar, his son and friend Bravo both graduated from Doral Academy.
"I still believe my son is alive!" exclaimed Christian's father, Carlos Aguilar Monday evening.
"He was really outgoing, he'd hang out with his friends a lot. He seemed really happy," said Doral Academy sophomore Melody Garces.
It was a tough day at the Doral Academy when students and staff found out that Aguilar was still missing.
"These kids are like family members to us and we want to do everything in our power to help the family find the young man," said Doral Academy Vice Principal Carlos Ferral.
Monday evening Doral Academy's principal flew to Gainesville along with other school administrators to help with the search. Principal Douglas Rodriguez described his former student as ,"an outstanding student, terrific young man who took school work seriously but also had personality fun engaging endearing to people."
Catherine Kononoff taught Christian's newspaper class and sad Christian's picture on the news, "and I knew and I just started screaming."
Carlos said that his son was currently dating a girl who Bravo had dated when they lived in South Florida. He did not say if he thought the fight may have been over her.
Bravo reportedly told police that after the fight Bravo left Aguilar in a parking lot in the 4900 block of NW 13th St (US 441) in northwestern Gainesville. Investigators suspect Aguilar then wandered into some nearby woods. Police believe he may have been disoriented and/or seriously injured, and unable to seek medical attention.
Aguilar, a freshman at UF majoring in biomedical engineering, is reported to have a history of depression.
Carlos said he searched the nearby woods, along with nearly one hundred friends, most from Doral and South Florida. They found no sign of him, but his dad said he will keep going.
"We did not find a body, we don't find the blood, we don't find the clothes, we don't find the shoes," Carlos said. "We didn't find anything that indicates that he was dropped in any of these locations."
Christian's younger brother Alex, who is a junior at Doral Academy, is missing class until his brother is found.
"Even though it may not lead to anything, it still gives us hope that we'll still find him," said Alex Aguilar.
Into the night, Christian's friends passed out fliers. They continue to hold out hope as well that Aguilar will be found alive.
"Christian has the will to live and I know he's out there and we'll get him back," said former classmate Sebastian Arias.
Central Florida Search and Rescue, who was alerted to the situation, has sent sent additional resources to assist in the search.
Everyone has said they won't stop looking and many said they are waiting on reinforcements to make the drive from Miami to help.
"It's not a matter of if we find him," said friend Eduardo Vilchez. "I know we will and we'll find him alive. It's just a matter of putting in the effort and spreading the word and he'll turn up."
The search will resume Tuesday morning.
