News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ongoing search for missing UF student; family seeking help

UF student missing

Friends, family and residents continue to search for University of Florida student Christian Aguilar, who has been missing since Thursday evening.

Aguilar, 18, was last seen Thursday at 6 p.m., according to the Gainesville Police Department. He was wearing a blue and grey hoodie and either light blue or grey jeans.

Investigators have named Pedro A. Bravo, 18, as a person of interest in Aguilar's disappearance. GPD officials said Bravo told investigators he and Aguilar had been involved in an altercation, and he left Aguilar in a parking lot in the 4900 block of Northwest 13th Street. Bravo has not been charged with a crime but was held for mental examination under Florida's Baker Act on Friday.

Police believe Aguilar may be seriously injured and/or disoriented and unable to seek medical attention.

Aguilar's father, Carlos, asked for volunteers to aid the search for his son.

"I need help. I need volunteers, I need ATVs, I need people to come here prepared and walk and search with me," Aguilar said.

Aguilar said he does not believe he has received enough help from the UF community.

"I haven't seen any representative from UF here, and I'm surprised," he said. "It's been all over the media and not even a phone call to my number. It's really bad."

Janine Sikes, a spokesperson for UF, said a victim's advocate from the UF Police Department and UF Student Affairs has been working with the family since Friday. An email about Aguilar's disappearance will soon be sent to students, faculty and staff.

An official UF alert was not sent because those are used in cases of immediate danger, and UF officials believe Aguilar's disappearance is an isolated incident, Sikes said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 352-393-7670. A donation fundhas been set up for the Aguilar family.

Christina DeVarona contributed to this story.

Mina is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.