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Search for missing UF student continues

Updates on search for Aguilar

The search for missing University of Florida student Christian Aguilar continues with parties on foot and in the air, and the Gainesville Police Department said there have been no new developments in the case.

"Nothing has changed at this point," said Officer Ben Tobias, a spokesman for the GPD.

"The only thing that has changed is the size of the search. We're adding more and more people to the search, both law enforcement and civilian."

Tobias said the aerial search has not been very effective due to the density of the wooded area being examined.

The police detained Pedro Bravo, a person of interest, who is the last person known to have seen Aguilar. Surveillance video from the Best Buy store on Archer Road shows Bravo and Aguilar together at 3 p.m. last Thursday before the 18 year old disappeared.

GPD is holding Bravo's car, a dark blue, two-door Chevrolet Blazer, but did not recover anything from the vehicle that would point to Aguilar's whereabouts. GPD also hopes to recover Aguilar's cell phone, which dispatched its last cell signal at 8:14 p.m. on the day of the disappearance.

Tobias said at least 17 state agencies are supporting GPD in the search, but the police will welcome additional assistance.

"We will definitely accept any help," he said.

"We don't necessarily need extra detectives or extra units. But people to help search, absolutely."

George Pappas edited this story online.

Denise is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.