GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Authorities have identified human remains discovered in Levy County last week as being those of a missing 18-year-old University of Florida student.
Gainesville police reported Monday that dental records were used to positively identify the remains as Christian Aguilar. A statement from police said Aguilar's family has been notified of the identification.
Further testing still needs to be conducted to determine the manner of death.
Dozens of students, administrators and community members gathered Monday night to remember Christian at a vigil at St. Augustine Catholic Church near UF's campus. One of his classmates said, "He was in my class we did a project he was part of gator community. He was like family for everyone here."
Aguilar's family tells Action News they are working towards closure. His cousin, Angel Valencia, said today's announcement "is the toughest news we've had to deal with probably in all of our lives."
Aguilar was last seen in Gainesville with his friend, 18-year-old Pedro Bravo, who has been charged with first-degree murder.
Police say Bravo told them he beat Aguilar unconscious and left him in a parking lot. Both Bravo and Aguilar are from Miami.
