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Possible remains of Christian Aguilar found

Human remains found in Levy County on Friday may be those of Christian Aguilar, an 18-year-old University of Florida student who has been missing since Sept. 20.

On Friday afternoon, Gainesville Police Department Spokesman Ben Tobias said GPD sent investigators to a rural area of Levy County, east of Cedar Key, after being contacted by the Levy County Sheriff's Office. Found at the scene were human remains, which both agencies are now processing. Tobias said GPD couldn't immediately confirm who the remains may be because forensic processing has not been completed, but other reports said evidence at the scene indicate the remains may be Aguilar.

Aguilar was last seen on Sept. 20 in recorded surveillance video from Best Buy in Gainesville. In the video, he was with an acquaintance, 18-year-old Pedro Bravo, who has since been arrested and charged with killing Aguilar. Bravo told investigators he and Aguilar has an altercation, and he left the teen beaten and unconscious in a wooded area.

Volunteers have spent the past month searching wooded areas in Gainesville for signs of the missing student. The organized search was called off on Oct. 5. On Thursday night, simulatenous candlelight vigils were held in Gainesville and Miami for Aguilar.

Mina Radman edited this story online.

Forrest is a radio news manager for WUFT News. Reach him by emailing news@wuft.org or calling 352-392-6397.