Christian Aguilar was a promising 18-year-old freshman at the University of Florida who had dreams of becoming a biomedical engineer. He had a loving girlfriend, Erika Friman, who was his friend since high school. But his life was cut short in September 2012 by someone he also knew from high school: Pedro Bravo.
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The Motive: A Jealous Ex-Boyfriend
Pedro Bravo and Erika Friman dated for a few years in high school, but Erika broke up with him after their graduation. Pedro was not happy with the breakup and tried to get back with her by transferring to the same community college where she was studying. But by then, Erika had already moved on and started dating Christian, who had also enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Pedro eventually found out about their relationship and became obsessed with Erika. He tried to contact her multiple times, but she ignored him. He also stalked her on social media and sent her threatening messages. He blamed Christian for stealing his girlfriend and wanted to get rid of him.
The Murder: A Brutal Betrayal
On September 20, 2012, Pedro contacted Christian and asked him to meet up with him. He claimed that he wanted to talk to him about some personal issues he was going through, such as depression and suicidal thoughts. Christian agreed to meet him, thinking that he could help his friend.
Pedro picked up Christian in his SUV and drove around the city while they talked. He also bought a Kanye West CD from Best Buy and some duct tape from Walmart. He later told the police that he picked up a hitchhiker along the way, who played with the duct tape in the backseat.
But Pedro’s real intention was to kill Christian. According to an inmate who testified at his trial, Pedro told him that he killed Christian by strangling him with a strap in his car in a Walmart parking lot. He also used a chemical compound to sedate him before suffocating him. He then dumped his body in a shallow grave in a wooded area in Levy County, about an hour away from Gainesville.
The Investigation: A Web of Lies
Pedro was the last person to see Christian alive, and he became the prime suspect in his disappearance. He initially told the police that he dropped off Christian on the side of the road near a business that sold four-wheel vehicles after they had an argument. He said he never saw him again.
But his story did not match the evidence. The police found traces of blood and DNA from Christian in Pedro’s car. They also found receipts from Best Buy and Walmart that showed Pedro bought items that could be used for murder. They also found Pedro’s journal, where he wrote about his hatred for Christian and his love for Erika.
The police also tracked Pedro’s phone and discovered that he lied about his whereabouts on the day of the murder. He did not pick up any hitchhiker, but instead drove to the remote area where Christian’s body was later found. He also used his phone’s flashlight app for nearly an hour, presumably while digging the grave.
The police arrested Pedro and charged him with first-degree murder and kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He claimed that he only hit Christian once and left him alive. He said he did not know how he died or who buried him.
The Verdict: A Life Sentence
The jury did not buy Pedro’s defense and found him guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He also received an additional 30 years for poisoning Christian with the chemical compound.
Christian’s family and friends were relieved by the verdict, but they still mourned his loss. They remembered him as a kind, smart, and caring person who had a bright future ahead of him. They also celebrated his birthday on November 16 by visiting his grave and releasing balloons.
Erika Friman also expressed her grief and anger at Pedro for killing her boyfriend. She said she felt betrayed by someone she once trusted and loved. She said she hoped Pedro would suffer for what he did and never find peace. She also said she missed Christian every day and wished he was still alive.
