[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]
Narrator: A COLLEGE FRESHMAN GOES MISSING.
"OKAY, HE DIDN'T STAY WITH ME LAST NIGHT.
HE DIDN'T STAY IN HIS DORM LAST NIGHT.
WHERE WAS HE ALL NIGHT?"
Narrator: HIS GIRLFRIEND PANICS...
YOU KNOW, PLEASE, LIKE, LET US HEAR SOMETHING.
Narrator: ...HIS FAMILY FEARS THE WORST...
MY SON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING,
SO I NEED TO FIND HIM.
Narrator:...AND A SEARCH LEADS POLICE NOWHERE.
IT'S HAVING THIS BIG PUZZLE AND THEN MISSING THAT ONE PIECE.
Narrator: BUT THERE IS ONE WITNESS
THAT CAN SOLVE THE MYSTERY
ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THE TV DOESN'T LIE.
Narrator: SANTA FE COLLEGE, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012.
CLASS IS OVER FOR ERIKA FRIMAN.
THEN SHE HAS PLANS TO MEET UP
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, CHRISTIAN AGUILAR.
IT WAS LIKE 4:00 OR 4:30,
AND THE FIRST THING I DO IS I'M TEXTING CHRISTIAN LIKE,
"HEY. WHERE ARE YOU? I JUST GOT OUT OF CLASS."
LIKE, "LET'S MEET UP."
Narrator: CHRISTIAN AGUILAR IS A FRESHMAN
ENROLLED AT THE NEARBY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
EVERY DAY AS SOON AS THINGS FINISHED UP FOR THE DAY,
I PRETTY MUCH WOULD CONTACT HIM
AND WE'D MEET UP.
SO I'M MESSAGING HIM.
HE DOESN'T ANSWER.
Narrator: ERIKA HEADS BACK TO HER APARTMENT ALONE.
HE'S STILL NOT ANSWERING.
I'M LIKE, "YOU KNOW, THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE STRANGE."
AND I'M LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE HE'S JUST REALLY BUSY.
MAYBE HE'S AT A MOVIE OR SOMETHING."
Narrator: BUT FOUR HOURS LATER,
THERE'S STILL NO SIGN OF CHRISTIAN.
GROWING MORE WORRIED BY THE MINUTE,
ERIKA HEADS TO HIS DORM TO CHECK IN WITH HIS ROOMMATE.
HEY, UM, HAVE YOU SEEN CHRISTIAN AT ALL?
NO.
AND I TELL HIM, "I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HIM."
LIKE, "CAN YOU JUST TEXT ME
OR CALL ME, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER HE SHOWS UP?
HERE'S MY NUMBER."
I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T CARE IF IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING
OR MIDNIGHT OR WHATEVER.
JUST MAKE SURE TO CALL ME, OKAY?
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE HE GOT HOME OKAY."
IT WAS REALLY UNLIKE HIM.
I MEAN, WE HADN'T EVEN BEEN DATING THAT LONG,
BUT I COULD ALREADY SENSE THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.
Narrator: ERIKA AND CHRISTIAN HAD AN INSTANT CONNECTION,
AND SINCE THEY GOT TOGETHER, THEY HAVE BEEN INSEPARABLE.
Friman: IT KIND OF JUST HAPPENED AND IT WAS STRANGE,
BUT YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE WHO YOU, LIKE,
START HAVING FEELINGS FOR, RIGHT?
SO...
WE WERE UNTOUCHABLE.
LIKE, AS LONG AS I WAS IN HIS ARMS
OR WITH HIM OR HE WAS AROUND,
LIKE, I FELT I COULD DO ANYTHING.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN AND ERIKA
WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR JOURNEY.
THEY WERE YOUNG, IN LOVE, AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.
I NEVER SAW MY SON SO HAPPY IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
Narrator: NIGHT FALLS AND STILL THERE'S NO WORD FROM CHRISTIAN.
THE NEXT MORNING, ERIKA CALLS CHRISTIAN'S ROOMMATE.
HI.
AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, HE NEVER SHOWED UP LAST NIGHT."
SO NOW I'M LIKE, "OKAY, HE DIDN'T STAY WITH ME LAST NIGHT.
HE DIDN'T STAY IN HIS DORM LAST NIGHT.
WHERE WAS HE ALL NIGHT?"
Narrator: ERIKA GROWS MORE WORRIED
WITH EVERY TICK OF THE CLOCK.
SHE CALLS CHRISTIAN'S PARENTS IN MIAMI.
I WOKE UP THAT DAY LIKE A NORMAL DAY.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
I WAS INSIDE OF MY OFFICE WHEN I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL.
ERIKA ASKED ME,
"DID YOU TALK TO CHRISTIAN LAST NIGHT?"
AND I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME THAT FOR?"
AND SHE SAYS,
"BECAUSE CHRISTIAN IS NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT."
WHAT?
AND I'M LIKE,
"THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE CHRISTIAN."
OKAY, LISTEN. I'M COMING TO GET YOU.
HE NEVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
I NEED TO GO GAINESVILLE.
I WENT FOR MY WIFE AND I TOLD HER, "LET'S GO."
WE JUST START DRIVING.
Narrator: BACK IN GAINESVILLE,
ERIKA MEETS WITH CHRISTIAN'S BEST FRIEND, PEDRO BRAVO.
HE TELLS ERIKA HE'D MET CHRISTIAN LUNCHTIME
THE DAY HE VANISHED
AND HE HASN'T HEARD FROM HIM SINCE.
ERIKA'S HEARD ENOUGH.
Friman: LIKE, LET'S GET THINGS DONE.
LIKE, LET'S GO TO THE POLICE
AND LET'S GET SOME, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL HELP
'CAUSE I CLEARLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO HERE.
Narrator: ERIKA AND PEDRO RUSH
TO THE CAMPUS POLICE STATION TO REPORT CHRISTIAN MISSING.
- WHAT'S GOING ON? - HI, I'M ERIKA.
- OFFICER PECK. - I'M PEDRO.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR MISSING STUDENTS ARE LOCATED
AND THEY'RE LOCATED FAIRLY QUICKLY.
USUALLY A MATTER OF SEVERAL PHONE CALLS
OR GOING TO THEIR RESIDENCE HALL.
WE'RE USUALLY ABLE TO TRACK THEM DOWN.
ANY TIME WE HAVE A MISSING PERSONS CASE,
WE KIND OF START WITH THE OBVIOUS --
CHECK TO SEE IF THEY'VE BEEN TO ANY OF THEIR CLASSES,
START CHECKING ANY SOCIAL MEDIA SITES THAT WE CAN
TO SEE IF THEY'VE BEEN ACTIVE RECENTLY.
Narrator: BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE SEARCH
FOR CHRISTIAN AGUILAR MUCH MORE URGENT AND ALARMING.
Friman: THERE WAS A POINT WHERE HE WAS SUFFERING
FROM SOME SORT OF DEPRESSION.
I JUST TRIED TO TELL HIM THAT I UNDERSTOOD
AND THAT I WANTED TO HELP HIM
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST HAVE A SEAT, OKAY?
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
WHERE WE FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION,
MAYBE WHERE THERE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
WE MAY JUMP A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.
Narrator: POLICE KNOW WELL
THAT SUICIDE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS.
THEY MUST ALWAYS TAKE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION SERIOUSLY.
UNIVERSITY POLICE RACE TO CHRISTIAN'S DORM
TO MAKE SURE HE HASN'T HARMED HIMSELF.
AS THEY DRIVE THE 300 MILES TO GAINESVILLE,
CHRISTIAN'S PARENTS GROW MORE CONCERNED WITH EVERY MILE.
Aguilar: MY FIRST REACTION IS -- I NEED TO FIND OUT.
IF I FIND HIM AND HE'S GOOD,
WELL, I'M GONNA HUG HIM AND COME BACK
AND TELL HIM NOT TO DO IT AGAIN.
Narrator: IN GAINESVILLE, POLICE ARRIVE AT CHRISTIAN'S DORM.
POLICE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT AWAITS THEM.
Peck: I DON'T WANT IT TO SOUND CRASS OR WEIRD,
BUT IS THERE A DEAD BODY IN THERE,
SOMETHING OBVIOUS OF A STRUGGLE,
OR CHRISTIAN HIMSELF?
Narrator: ERIKA AND PEDRO WAIT ANXIOUSLY AT THE POLICE STATION.
I'M KIND OF WAITING FOR THEM TO GET BACK
TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY,
AND IT WAS JUST VERY EMOTIONAL
AND A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AT THAT POINT.
Narrator: ON THE ROAD,
DAD CARLOS IS TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.
Aguilar: I START PANICKING.
I WAS NERVOUS.
YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF THOUGHTS IN YOUR MIND
THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL.
**
Peck: WHEN THEY WENT INTO THE ROOM,
THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
Narrator: THE SEARCH LEADS NOWHERE.
SO INVESTIGATORS CHANGE TACTICS.
THEY TRY PICKING UP THE MISSING STUDENT'S CYBER TRAIL.
Peck: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE CHECKING
WAS TO FIND OUT IF HE HAD CONNECTED
INTO THE UNIVERSITY COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEM,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT HAD POPPED UP
THAT HE WAS ON IT THAT PREVIOUS NIGHT.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN HAD LOGGED IN TO THE UNIVERSITY NETWORK
THE NIGHT BEFORE HE VANISHED.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, IS HE STILL SOMEWHERE ON CAMPUS?
Aguilar: I WAS LITERALLY PRAYING TO GOD
THAT THIS WAS JUST GONNA END WITH, LIKE, A SILLY STORY
THAT WE CAN TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, IN THE YEARS TO COME.
Narrator: IF CHRISTIAN IS SOMEWHERE ON
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S 2,000-ACRE CAMPUS,
THEN HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPOTTED BY THE MOST RELIABLE WITNESS
THERE IS.
THERE ARE SCORES OF SECURITY CAMERAS
IN AND AROUND THE MORE THAN 900 CAMPUS BUILDINGS.
CAMPUS POLICE START ROUNDING UP THE VIDEO
FROM EVERY CAMERA THEY CAN.
WILL ONE OF THESE CAMERAS
REVEAL WHAT HAPPENED TO CHRISTIAN AGUILAR?
Narrator: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENT CHRISTIAN AGUILAR
HAS NOW BEEN MISSING FOR 24 HOURS.
HIS GIRLFRIEND ERIKA
AND HIS FRIEND PEDRO
REPORTED IT TO THE COPS THIS MORNING.
AT THIS POINT, I'M JUST, LIKE, REALLY FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
I FEEL HELPLESS. I FEEL LIKE MY HANDS ARE TIED.
Narrator: POLICE KNOW CHRISTIAN WAS LOGGED ON TO CAMPUS COMPUTERS,
SO THEY START THEIR VIDEO SEARCH
FOR THE MISSING STUDENT WITH ON-CAMPUS SECURITY CAMERAS.
ONE IS POSTED UP OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY CAFé.
LET ME JUST BACK THIS UP HERE.
STOP IT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN.
ANOTHER CAMERA IS MOUNTED RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ROOM
WHERE CHRISTIAN'S LAST CLASS OF THE DAY WAS HELD.
AND A CAMERA MONITORS THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO CAMPUS.
LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING AGAIN.
ACROSS EVERY FRAME OF TAPE RECORDED
ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SYSTEM THAT NIGHT...
...THERE IS NO SIGN OF CHRISTIAN,
AT LEAST NOT YET.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED,
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
IT KIND OF GAVE ME A LITTLE CONCERN.
Narrator: IN THE MEANTIME, CHRISTIAN'S PARENTS HAVE ARRIVED FROM MIAMI,
AND RIGHT AWAY, HIS FATHER, CARLOS,
LAUNCHES HIS OWN SEARCH FOR HIS SON.
CREATES SOMETHING IN YOUR STOMACH
AND YOUR HEART THAT YOU CANNOT IMAGINE.
Narrator: IT HAS NOW BEEN 24 HOURS SINCE CHRISTIAN DISAPPEARED
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
THEY WERE STARTING TO PUT OUT FLIERS FOR CHRISTIAN
TO GET INFORMATION.
DO YOU MIND TAKING THIS? MY SON IS MISSING.
MY SON IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING,
SO I NEED TO FIND HIM.
Narrator: WHILE HIS OFFICERS SEARCH THROUGH
HOURS OF CAMPUS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO,
OFFICER PECK QUESTIONS ERIKA AND CHRISTIAN'S FRIEND PEDRO.
MNH-MNH.
THEY DID ASK ME WHERE I WAS AND WHAT I WAS DOING
AND WHERE I WAS ON CAMPUS.
MM-HMM.
THEY, I GUESS, GAVE ME, LIKE, AN ACTUAL INTERROGATION.
I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE THAT THEY WERE QUESTIONING ME
THINKING THAT I WAS A SUSPECT.
Narrator: RIGHT NEXT DOOR, DETECTIVES QUESTION PEDRO BRAVO.
Peck: THEY HAD MET THE PREVIOUS DAY.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS, CONFIDANTS.
YOU KNOW, BEST FRIENDS WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
Narrator: THE COPS GRILL CHRISTIAN'S FRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND
ABOUT EVERY DETAIL
OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MISSING TEEN.
Friman: HE WAS LOOKING AT ME UNDER A MICROSCOPE,
RIGHT, 'CAUSE AT THAT POINT, I WAS A SUSPECT, I SUPPOSE.
"I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE HOURS.
WHY CAN'T I GO OUT LOOKING FOR HIM?
WHAT CAN I DO?"
Narrator: NEXT DOOR, PEDRO IS ALSO FRUSTRATED.
HE WALKS INVESTIGATORS
THROUGH THE DAY HE AND CHRISTIAN SPENT TOGETHER.
YEAH, NO, IT'S THAT SONG SPECIFICALLY.
Peck: THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE CAMPUS AND GET INTO PEDRO'S CAR.
Bravo: I KNEW YOU WERE A FAN.
AND THEY WENT TO BEST BUY
SO THAT CHRISTIAN COULD PICK UP THE NEW KANYE WEST CD.
THEY DROVE AROUND TOWN LISTENING TO THIS CD.
AND I CAN'T...
AND THEN EVENTUALLY,
AT SOME POINT DURING THIS DRIVE...
ALL RIGHT, DUDE. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
...HE DROPPED CHRISTIAN OFF SOMEWHERE IN GAINESVILLE.
Narrator: BUT THAT'S WHERE THE TRAIL ENDS.
NEW TO GAINESVILLE,
PEDRO DOESN'T KNOW STREET NAMES AND NUMBERS WELL ENOUGH
TO TELL POLICE EXACTLY WHERE HE LAST SAW CHRISTIAN.
YES.
MEANWHILE, THE INTERROGATION
IS ALSO FRUSTRATING GIRLFRIEND ERIKA.
Friman: IF THEY WANTED TO ASK ME THE SAME QUESTION
A MILLION TIMES AND THAT WAS GONNA HELP THEM FIND CHRISTIAN,
I WAS LIKE, "WHATEVER YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW,
I WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING."
Narrator: WITH THE CLOCK TICKING,
POLICE EXPAND THEIR CCTV SEARCH YET AGAIN.
THEY PULL FOOTAGE FROM KEY CAMERAS
ON THE MASSIVE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA CAMPUS.
IT'S LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
THEY THINK THEY SPOT HIM SEVERAL TIMES.
ALL RIGHT. STOP IT. OKAY.
BUT IN THE CRUCIAL TIMEFRAME,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF THE MISSING COLLEGE FRESHMAN.
IT SEEMED VERY ODD.
Narrator: WITH THE TAPES LEADING NOWHERE,
POLICE GO BACK TO THE LAST PERSON
THEY KNOW SAW CHRISTIAN --
PEDRO BRAVO.
WE REALLY WANTED TO NARROW DOWN
WHEN THE LAST TIME ANYBODY HAD CONTACT WITH CHRISTIAN.
Narrator: WITHOUT A SOLID ADDRESS TO CHECK OUT,
THEY FOCUS ON THE PART OF PEDRO'S STORY
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONFIRM --
THE TRIP TO BEST BUY.
IS HE BEING HONEST ABOUT ONE OF THE LAST TIMES
HE SAW CHRISTIAN?
Narrator: THEY HEAD TO THE STORE LOOKING FOR A WITNESS
THAT ALWAYS TELLS THE TRUTH.
Peck: NOW WE COULD GO TO THIS STORE,
SEE IF THEY HAVE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE.
SO WE START NOW TRYING TO WORK ON A TIMELINE, YOU KNOW,
IF THERE WAS ANYBODY ELSE WITH THEM.
Narrator: THEY'RE IN LUCK.
THE STORE HAS CAMERAS.
THE MANAGER HANDS OVER THE TAPES
AND OFFICERS BRING THE FOOTAGE TO THE STATION.
THEY REWIND TO THE APPROXIMATE TIME
PEDRO SAYS THEY WENT SHOPPING.
AND THEN THEY LET THE VIDEO ROLL.
**
FOR 10 MINUTES, THERE'S NOTHING FOR THEM TO SEE.
BUT THEN, THEY SPOT PEDRO.
AND HE'S WITH CHRISTIAN AGUILAR.
THAT LOOKS LIKE HIM.
THE POLICE FINALLY CATCH A GLIMPSE
OF THE MISSING STUDENT.
**
THEY SPOOL THROUGH EVERY CAMERA ANGLE,
SCOURING THE VIDEO FOR ANY KIND OF CLUE.
PEDRO AND CHRISTIAN ARE ALONE.
THEY LOOK RELAXED.
THEY BROWSE THE AISLES AND PICK UP A CD.
EVERYTHING LOOKS NORMAL.
SO IT KIND OF CONFIRMED THAT PART OF THE STORY
THAT PEDRO WAS TELLING US.
Narrator: NOW POLICE PRESS PEDRO AGAIN FOR MORE DETAILS
ABOUT WHERE HE DROPPED CHRISTIAN OFF
AFTER THEY WENT TO BEST BUY.
PEDRO DIDN'T KNOW SPECIFIC STREET NAMES
'CAUSE HE REALLY WAS NEW TO THE AREA.
USING PEDRO'S DESCRIPTIONS...
...DETECTIVES MANAGE TO PIECE TOGETHER A POSSIBLE LOCATION
FOR CHRISTIAN'S DROP-OFF.
AND IT'S A LOCATION THEY'RE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.
Peck: THERE WERE SOME HIGH-CRIME AREAS UP THERE
THAT WERE KNOWN FOR NARCOTICS SALES AND USE AREAS,
WHICH KIND OF HAD ME A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED.
Narrator: HOW COULD OUT-OF-TOWNER PEDRO HAVE KNOWN
THAT HE'S DROPPED CHRISTIAN OFF
IN ONE OF THE HIGHEST-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS IN GAINESVILLE?
WERE THEY GOING UP THERE TO BUY ILLEGAL DRUGS
AND THEN DID SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN DURING THE DEAL?
Narrator: PEDRO SUDDENLY REALIZES HE MAY HAVE DROPPED HIS BEST FRIEND
INTO THE MIDDLE OF DANGER.
HE KIND OF BROKE DOWN AND STARTED CRYING AND SAYING
IT WAS GONNA BE ALL HIS FAULT,
"BECAUSE I DROPPED HIM OFF THERE AND LEFT HIM THERE."
Narrator: THE POLICE FINALLY HAVE THEIR FIRST SOLID LEAD.
WAS CHRISTIAN THE VICTIM OF A DRUG DEAL GONE WRONG?
Peck: THERE'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE THAT WE WORRY ABOUT
WITH ASSAULTS AND BATTERY, STALKING, THAT ARE OUT THERE.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN'S FRIENDS DENY HE HAS EVER DONE DRUGS.
BUT UNIVERSITY POLICE HAVE TO FOLLOW UP.
SINCE THIS DRUG DEN IS OFF-CAMPUS
AND OUT OF THEIR JURISDICTION,
THEY HAVE TO CALL IN GAINESVILLE POLICE FOR HELP.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
DETECTIVE ROBERTS.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD CALLED
ASKING FOR A DETECTIVE TO COME OVER
AND ASSIST THEM ON A MISSING PERSONS CASE.
OKAY. I'M ON MY WAY.
Narrator: AND DETECTIVE ROBERTS DOESN'T WASTE ANOTHER SECOND.
HE SENDS PATROL OFFICERS OUT
TO SEE IF THERE'S SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ANYWHERE NEAR
WHERE PEDRO DROPPED CHRISTIAN OFF.
Roberts: THERE'S NO MEMORY PROBLEMS WITH A CCTV.
THE TV DOESN'T LIE.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN AGUILAR HAS NOW BEEN MISSING FOR THREE DAYS.
HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS
GROW MORE PANICKED WITH EACH PASSING HOUR.
ALL THAT MATTERED TO ME WAS FINDING HIM
AND HAVING HIM BACK.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN'S FRIEND PEDRO
DROPPED CHRISTIAN OFF IN AN AREA
WHERE DRUG DEALERS ARE KNOWN TO PLY THEIR TRADE.
AND NOW, INVESTIGATORS MUST GO BLOCK TO BLOCK,
BUSINESS BY BUSINESS,
LOOKING FOR SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT MIGHT HELP SOLVE THIS MYSTERY
AND BRING CHRISTIAN BACK ALIVE.
WE FOCUSED MOST OF OUR RESOURCES
AS FAR AS OBTAINING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
FROM THE LOCATION
WHERE PEDRO BRAVO LAST SAW CHRISTIAN.
Narrator: TWO BUSINESSES ARE QUICK TO HAND OVER THEIR FOOTAGE.
A KANGAROO CONVENIENCE STORE HAS THREE SECURITY CAMERAS --
TWO OVER THE ENTRANCE...
...AND ONE LOOKING ONTO THE GAS STATION.
COULD ONE OF THEM HAVE SEEN CHRISTIAN?
**
Peck: YOU START WATCHING IT AND YOU REALIZE
THAT IT'S NOT EITHER SHOWING THE AREA THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
OR THAT THE QUALITY'S NOT THERE.
ESPECIALLY, THEN, WE HAVE TO SIT THERE
AND WATCH IT IN REAL TIME,
AND WE HAVE A VERY BIG TIMEFRAME TO LOOK AT.
Narrator: A SUNTRUST BANK BRANCH IS THE NEXT TO OFFER UP ITS FOOTAGE.
Peck: CAN YOU I.D. THE OCCUPANT OF THAT VEHICLE THERE?
Narrator: POLICE COMPARE EVERY MALE FIGURE TO CHRISTIAN'S PHOTOGRAPH.
BUT IT'S NO USE.
YET AGAIN, HE'S NOT THERE.
Roberts: YOU'RE GONNA BE DISAPPOINTED,
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE NEXT LOCATION.
Peck: IT'S A BIG TASK.
IT BECOMES VERY, VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE.
Narrator: THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE CAMERAS IN THE AREA.
Roberts: SO MANY PLACES AND BUSINESSES,
IT TOOK A BIG TEAM EFFORT TO GET EVERYTHING WE GOT.
Narrator: BUT THEY AREN'T GIVING UP.
THEY KNOW IT COULD TAKE JUST A SINGLE SECOND OF FOOTAGE
TO TURN THIS CASE AROUND.
IT CAN DO A LOT TO CHANGE THE INVESTIGATION.
Narrator: WHILE POLICE SCOUR THE VIDEO,
ANOTHER KIND OF SEARCH IS UNDERWAY.
Man: 18-YEAR-OLD AGUILAR
WAS REPORTED MISSING ALMOST A WEEK AGO,
AND STILL AUTHORITIES DON'T HAVE A FIRM GRASP
ON WHERE THEY CAN FIND HIM.
THE SEARCH ORIGINATED
RIGHT WHERE PEDRO BRAVO LAST SAW CHRISTIAN,
WHICH WAS TOWARDS THE OUTER NORTH PORTION
OF THE CITY LIMITS.
WE HAD PATROL OFFICERS, HELICOPTERS, DOGS,
COME TO THAT LOCATION.
WE'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR DAYS
AND WE'RE NOT UNCOVERING ANYTHING.
Narrator: ALSO DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS,
CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY AND VOLUNTEERS JOIN THE SEARCH.
WE IMMEDIATELY WENT OVER THERE
AND WE START GETTING INTO THE WOODS.
Roberts: THERE WERE VOLUNTEERS COMING OUT OF MIAMI,
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM ALL OVER SOUTH FLORIDA
WERE COMING UP HERE AND VOLUNTEERING AND HELPING.
THERE WERE A HOST OF PEOPLE
THAT CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK
TO HELP FIND CHRISTIAN.
Aguilar: I'M THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE.
I'M THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO LEAD.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
THE ONLY THING THAT I KNEW IS THAT I NEEDED TO FIND HIM.
I'M NOT A RICH PERSON.
I WORK FOR A LIVING.
I WAS LOSING MY HOUSE AT ONE POINT.
I KNEW THAT MY HOUSE WAS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN,
BUT I DIDN'T CARE.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
Narrator: THE SEARCHES COME UP EMPTY.
CHRISTIAN AGUILAR WAS LAST SEEN...
Narrator: BUT THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT GENERATES TIPS.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENT CHRISTIAN AGUILAR.
Narrator: MOST OF THEM LEAD NOWHERE.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ] CAMPUS POLICE.
THEN, INFORMATION COMES IN THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
A LIQUOR STORE EMPLOYEE TELLS COPS
THAT SHE'S SEEN THE YOUNG MAN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
A LADY SAID THAT SHE SAW HIM
OUTSIDE THE LIQUOR STORE FRIDAY EVENING.
Narrator: THE WOMAN IS CERTAIN SHE SAW HIM ALONE
AT THE STORE AROUND THE TIME PEDRO DROPPED HIM OFF.
POLICE HEAD TO ABC LIQUORS.
IT'S GOOD NEWS.
THE STORE'S COVERED WITH SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.
WE PULLED THEIR SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BRING THE LIQUOR-STORE VIDEOS
BACK TO HEADQUARTERS.
THEY LOAD IT UP.
THEY REWIND TO THE TIME
THE WOMAN CLAIMED SHE SAW CHRISTIAN.
IF HE WAS THERE,
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.
WHAT'S THAT?
**
REPLAY THAT.
HE WASN'T THERE.
Narrator: CCTV PROVES ANOTHER LEAD FALSE --
CHRISTIAN WASN'T AT THE STORE.
FOR POLICE, IT'S A HUGE SETBACK AND ANOTHER DEAD END.
IT'S HAVING THIS BIG PUZZLE AND THEN MISSING THAT ONE PIECE.
Narrator: WITH EACH DEAD END,
THE AGONY DEEPENS FOR CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY.
I WAS LIKE A WALKING DEAD PERSON.
WASN'T ABLE TO CONCENTRATE OR REMEMBER A LOT OF STUFF.
YOU KNOW, AS A FATHER, YOU NEVER WANT TO LOSE FAITH.
I'M LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN COME AND HELP ME.
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT CAN WALK WITH ME.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN ASK.
NOT KNOWING IS LIKE THE --
I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE THAT KIND OF PAIN AND THAT WONDER,
AND LIKE THE CONSTANT
OF WHERE HE COULD BE AND IF HE'S IN PAIN
AND LIKE, IT'S JUST SO TRAUMATIZING.
I DON'T --
NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
Narrator: POLICE CAST THE NET WIDE,
PULLING FOOTAGE FROM BANKS,
FAST-FOOD RESTAURANTS,
HOTELS,
ALL IN THE DANGEROUS AREA
TOWARDS THE NORTHERN EDGES OF GAINESVILLE,
JUST OFF THE 441 HIGHWAY
WHERE CHRISTIAN WAS LAST SEEN.
IT CAN TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE IF YOU LET IT.
TO BE A GOOD DETECTIVE,
YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEWHAT CONSUMED WITH YOUR CASES.
EITHER IT DOESN'T SHOW, YOU KNOW, THE STREET
OR IT ONLY SHOWS CERTAIN PORTIONS.
Narrator: BUT AFTER WATCHING HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF VIDEO
AND BURNING VALUABLE INVESTIGATION TIME,
THEY REALIZE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CAPTURE CHRISTIAN ON TAPE,
AT LEAST NOT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO SIT THERE FOR 12 HOURS
AND WATCH IT AND NOT GET ANYTHING
IS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING.
Narrator: DETECTIVES START TO WONDER
IF CHRISTIAN WAS EVER REALLY IN THAT PART OF TOWN AT ALL.
IT WAS LIKE ALL THESE THINGS WERE MISSING
AND I JUST WANTED ANSWERS.
Narrator: BUT THEN, ALMOST ONE MONTH
INTO THE SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN AGUILAR...
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ] ...THEY GET A CALL
THAT SENDS THIS CASE IN A NEW AND OMINOUS DIRECTION.
HELLO?
I KIND OF SEE THEM ALL KIND OF DROP
TO THE FLOOR AT THIS POINT, AND I CAN SEE THEM HUGGING,
AND IN MY HEAD, THINGS ARE JUST ESCALATING.
Narrator: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
IN THEIR QUEST TO FIND MISSING UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FRESHMAN
CHRISTIAN AGUILAR,
POLICE HAVE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW,
QUESTIONED HIS BEST FRIEND AND HIS GIRLFRIEND,
AND WATCHED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
Roberts: YOU DIDN'T GET A LOT OF SLEEP,
AND THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO.
I HAD EVERY DETECTIVE IN OUR DIVISION
HELPING US IN THIS CASE.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN'S FATHER, CARLOS,
HAS LEFT HIS LIFE IN MIAMI BEHIND
TO SEARCH FOR HIS SON.
IT BECOMES YOUR OBSESSION.
Narrator: BUT ON THE 22nd DAY OF THIS BAFFLING MISSING PERSONS CASE...
HELLO?
Narrator:...CARLOS GETS A CALL
THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
I RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM A NEWS REPORTER INDICATING --
"MR. AGUILAR, HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR SON HAS BEEN FOUND?"
WHAT?
I SAID, "EXCUSE ME?"
I DECIDED TO CALL RANDY ROBERTS.
I'M REALLY, REALLY SORRY TO HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS.
RANDY TOLD ME THEY FOUND A BODY IN LEVY COUNTY
AND IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW --
"THE CLOTHING MATCHES YOUR SON."
THEY FOUND CHRISTIAN.
I THINK THAT TRYING TO LET A FAMILY KNOW
THAT THEIR FAMILY MEMBER HAS PASSED AWAY
IS A VERY DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOB.
I MEAN, IT TEARS AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS
FOR SOMEONE TO LOSE A CHILD.
CARLOS AND CLAUDIA ARE GREAT PEOPLE.
THAT WAS REALLY HARD.
IT WAS HARD TO HEAR IT.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST ONES I'VE EVER HAD TO DO.
I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?
WHY NOW? WHY US?
WHY MY FAMILY?
Friman: I'M THERE, LIKE, "OH, GOD."
LIKE, "THEY FOUND HIM. OH, GOD."
LIKE, "WHAT'S HAPPENING?
WHY AREN'T WE ALL BEING TALKED TO?
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS BEING SAID TO THEM,
BUT I KNEW IT WASN'T GOOD.
I REMEMBER FEELING MY CHEST
JUST LIKE AS IF SOMEONE HAD JUST PUNCHED ME.
IT'S SOMEBODY YOU CARE ABOUT SO MUCH,
AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A WAY TO --
I MEAN...YEAH.
**
Roberts: THERE WERE TWO YOUNG MEN
IN THE HUNTING WOODS IN LEVY COUNTY.
THEY FOUND WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE A BODY IN A SHALLOW GRAVE.
AS FAR AS IDENTIFYING HIM,
HE WAS STILL WEARING THE SAME SHIRT FROM BEST BUY.
AND THEN DENTAL RECORDS WERE USED
TO MAKE A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION.
HIS FEET AND HANDS HAD BEEN DUCT-TAPED
ALONG WITH THE AREA OVER HIS MOUTH,
AND WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A HOMICIDE.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN AGUILAR WAS MOST LIKELY STRANGLED TO DEATH,
AND THE AUTOPSY REVEALS SOMETHING ELSE,
SOMETHING UNUSUAL.
CHRISTIAN MAY HAVE HAD SLEEPING PILLS IN HIS SYSTEM
WHEN HE WAS MURDERED.
POLICE NOW BELIEVE CHRISTIAN'S MURDERER
DRUGGED HIM THEN KILLED HIM.
BUT WHO WOULD WANT TO KILL A YOUNG MAN
WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD,
NO DEBTS, AND NO KNOWN ENEMIES?
WITH THAT QUESTION IN MIND,
POLICE TAKE A NEW LOOK AT EVERY BIT OF EVIDENCE.
INVESTIGATORS LOOK FOR WITNESSES.
THEY ASK HIS GIRLFRIEND ERIKA
IF THERE WAS ANYONE WHO WANTED CHRISTIAN DEAD.
DETECTIVES COMPARE THE CASE TO OTHER LOCAL HOMICIDES.
AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANT,
THEY KEEP SEARCHING THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
THEY'VE COLLECTED FROM ALL THOSE GAINESVILLE BUSINESSES.
ONE OF THE SERGEANTS PULLED VIDEO FROM A CAR WASH,
AND NOT EVEN THINKING WHAT MIGHT BE ON THERE
BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKING A SHOT.
Narrator: IT'S A SHOT WORTH TAKING.
BECAUSE AROUND 2:00 A.M.,
THEY SEE SOMEONE AT THE CAR WASH
WHO DOESN'T BELONG THERE.
**
THERE IT IS.
YEAH.
IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN, THE VICTIM.
IT'S PEDRO, HIS BEST FRIEND.
Roberts: THERE'S 12 MINUTES OF VIDEO OUT OF THE BLUE
OF A CAR WASH WHERE HE GOES AND WASHES HIS CAR.
Narrator: PEDRO HAD TOLD POLICE
THAT HE WENT RIGHT HOME AFTER DROPPING CHRISTIAN OFF
AND THEN STAYED IN FOR THE NIGHT.
HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT WASHING HIS CAR
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
HE WAS NOT AT HOME AT THE TIME
THAT HE SAYS HE WAS.
IT GIVES YOU A SUSPICION.
Narrator: DETECTIVES NOW HAVE ENOUGH
TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT FOR PEDRO'S APARTMENT.
POLICE GO OVER EVERY INCH OF THE PLACE
LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT COULD LINK PEDRO
TO HIS BEST FRIEND'S MURDER.
THEY LOOK EVERYWHERE.
EVEN IN THE TRASH.
WE FOUND RECEIPTS THAT LED US TO STORES
WHERE HE MADE PURCHASES.
Narrator: ONE OF THOSE RECEIPTS COMES FROM A WALMART,
A PLACE WITH SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
POINTED AT EVERY REGISTER.
THEY BRING THE WALMART SURVEILLANCE TAPE
INTO HEADQUARTERS.
DETECTIVE ROBERTS PULLS UP THE FOOTAGE FROM THE TIME
ON THE RECEIPT.
THEN WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO SEE
WILL CHILL THIS VETERAN DETECTIVE
TO THE BONE.
Narrator: CHRISTIAN AGUILAR HAS BEEN MURDERED --
STRANGLED AND BURIED IN A SHALLOW GRAVE
IN A LONELY CORNER OF RURAL FLORIDA.
A SEARCH OF HIS BEST FRIEND PEDRO'S APARTMENT HAS LED COPS
TO SHOCKING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
THAT MAY BE ABOUT TO TURN THE CASE AROUND.
DETECTIVE RANDY ROBERTS
HAS QUEUED UP THE WALMART SECURITY TAPES
TO SEE WHAT PEDRO BOUGHT AT THE STORE.
HE PRESSES PLAY.
AT 8:06,
THERE'S PEDRO.
**
WHAT'S THAT IN HIS HAND?
YEAH, HOLD ON. LET ME BACK THAT UP.
YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY ON THE CCTV A SHOVEL.
CONSIDERING HE LIVES IN AN APARTMENT,
THAT'S DEFINITELY AN ODD THING TO BE PURCHASING.
YEAH.
IT'S A DISTINCT SHORT-HANDLED SHOVEL,
PARTICULAR GRIP.
HE'S LIVING IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BURY IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.
Narrator: AND POLICE KNOW
CHRISTIAN WAS BURIED IN TOUGH DIRT.
BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY SECRET THE FOOTAGE HOLDS.
LET ME SEE IF WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
**
HE THEN BUYS SLEEPING PILLS...
...AND DUCT TAPE.
IN AND OF THEMSELVES,
THE ITEMS THAT HE BOUGHT ARE NOT ODD OR STRANGE,
BUT TAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES,
THEY BECOME THE TOOLS OF A MURDER.
Narrator: FINALLY, AFTER SEARCHING HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF VIDEO,
THEIR PATIENCE PAYS OFF.
Roberts: IT WAS GREAT TO GET THAT VIDEO.
I MEAN, IT WAS EXCITING.
Narrator: PEDRO BRAVO JUST WENT FROM BEING BEST FRIEND
TO MURDERER.
BUT THERE'S ONE MORE CRUCIAL QUESTION TO ANSWER --
WHY?
WHY WOULD THIS 18-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT
WHO'S NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE KILL HIS BEST FRIEND?
PEDRO BRAVO SPELLS OUT EXACTLY WHAT HIS MOTIVE WAS.
IN FACT, HE WROTE IT DOWN IN HIS JOURNAL.
PEDRO'S MOTIVE IN THIS CASE WAS LOVE.
HE WAS DEEPLY IN LOVE AND OBSESSED WITH ERIKA FRIMAN.
ERIKA WAS PEDRO'S ONLY MOTIVE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET ERIKA WAS TO MAKE CHRIS DISAPPEAR.
Friman: I -- I DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE I GET ASKED A LOT LIKE,
"OH, IF YOU COULD SAY SOMETHING TO HIM,"
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I WOULD SAY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WOULD, LIKE, WASTE MY BREATH.
Roberts: THE JOURNAL SHOWED A PLAN
THAT PEDRO HAD WRITTEN OUT
ABOUT HOW TO LURE CHRISTIAN AGUILAR
AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS.
Narrator: AND ONE MORE TIME,
AN ALL-SEEING SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
HELPS POLICE PUT THE PUZZLE TOGETHER.
A VIDEO ANALYST SPOTS A PIECE OF TAPE
THAT SHOWS EXACTLY WHERE PEDRO TOOK CHRISTIAN
THE DAY HE MURDERED HIS SO-CALLED BEST FRIEND.
THEY ENDED UP AT A WALMART PARKING LOT.
Narrator: PEDRO PARKS IN THE END ROW.
HIS CAR DOESN'T MOVE FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS,
AND NO ONE GETS IN OR OUT.
Friman: HE DRUGGED HIM WITH A DRINK.
I THINK IT WAS A GATORADE.
AND I THINK IT WAS ALL SLEEPING PILLS.
Kramer: I THINK DURING THAT HOUR THAT CHRIS PROBABLY FELL ASLEEP.
AND WHILE THEY WERE IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT,
I THINK PEDRO STRANGLED CHRIS TO DEATH.
Narrator: AND ALL THE WHILE, PEDRO'S CAR
WAS RIGHT UNDER THE NOSE OF THE SECURITY CAMERAS.
Kramer: FOR THE MURDER CHARGE,
PEDRO WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
IT'S OFTEN A HOLLOW VICTORY
BECAUSE I CAN'T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY MOST WANT, WHICH IS --
THEY WANT THEIR CHILD BACK.
WE WERE SHATTERED BY THIS TRAGEDY.
THEY BROKE US AS A FAMILY.
AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
MR. CHRISTIAN AGUILAR.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Friman: I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER HIM
AS THIS BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING
MAKING THEM LAUGH AND HIS SMILE.
I JUST WANT THEM TO REMEMBER HIM
NOT FOR ALL OF THIS HORRIBLE STUFF
THAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
I WANT THEM TO REMEMBER HIM FOR WHO HE WAS.