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UPDATE - 9/26 - 5:52 P.M. EST: The University of Florida's NPR station reports that Pedro Bravo, arrested in connection with Christian Aguilar's disappearance, purchased a small shovel and duct tape prior to his meeting with Aguilar.
His father told the station that while the tools may not have been meant for his son, he fears that the purchase suggests premeditated harm against him.
Police arrested Pedro Bravo, 18, in connection to the disappearance of Christian Aguilar, an 18-year-old University of Florida student, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Arrested Monday afternoon, Bravo is charged with depriving a crime victim of medical care, which is a third-degree felony. According to police, Bravo and Aguilar were seeing the same female, and the two fought over her.
Aguilar's father, Carlos, told NBC Miami this weekend that he fears Christian is somewhere too hurt to find medical help. He fears for his son's life, and was seen in news reports chopping through area forest with a machete. From the forest and on his phone, he told the station
I beg people. I beg them. Help, help me. Help for my son. I want to find him. He's still alive.
The Associated Press reports that Bravo told three versions of his encounter with Aguilar on Thursday, when he was last seen. In the first, they talk. Bravo strikes Aguilar in the second and beats him unconscious in the third.
According to the Florida Alligator, the university's independent newspaper, shouts of "Chris" and "Christian" have filled area forests, and K-9 units and a Gainsville Police Department helicopter have joined crews of police, family and friends already searching.
Bravo was considered a person of interest and was taken into custody when he threatened his own life, according to police. They held him under California's Baker Act before arresting him Monday and booking him into Alachua County Jail. He's held in lieu of $100,000 bond.
NBC Miami reports Aguilar is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and of medium build. He was wearing a blue/gray hoodie and either light blue or gray jeans when he was seen last. Police ask anyone with information in the case to call the Gainesville Police Department's Criminal Investigations Bureau at 352-393-7670.
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