Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Carlos Aguilar leads a post-decision press conference.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedro Bravo sentenced to life for 2012 Aguilar murder

By Alex Harris | Aug. 24, 2014

“This is your day of reckoning.”

Carlos Aguilar is surrounded by family as he leaves the courtroom.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Bravo sentenced to life in prison, may not contact Aguilar family

By Alex Harris | Aug. 15, 2014

Pedro Bravo testifies in court Thursday to share his version of the events of the day Christian Aguilar disappeared and the days following.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedro Bravo takes the stand to explain his story

By Alex Harris | Aug. 14, 2014

Pedro Bravo took the stand Thursday to defend himself against his first-degree murder charge, among others.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The state talks about the night Aguilar went missing, body recovery

By Alex Harris | Aug. 14, 2014

If you ask the state, Pedro Bravo had a busy night on Sept. 20, 2012.

The defense questions Angelo on his prior interviews with the assistant state attorney in Dec. 2012.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Bravo’s time in jail marked by disturbing letters, story and plans, cell mate says

By Alex Harris | Aug. 13, 2014

On Pedro Bravo’s first night in jail, he asked his cell mate, Michael Angelo, for two things — his pen and his shoelaces.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Timeline for Bravo’s purchases, locations built with receipts, security footage

By Alex Harris | Aug. 7, 2014

The state continued to build its case against Pedro Bravo, using receipts, security footage and police testimony to construct a timeline of Bravo’s activities leading up to Aguilar’s disappearance and immediately following it.

Pedro Bravo, who is accused of the first-degree murder of Christian Aguilar, glances back at his mother during Wednesday’s court proceedings. He was the last person seen with Aguilar on Sept 20, 2012.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedro Bravo case continues with friends and family taking the stand

By Alex Harris | Aug. 6, 2014

An image flashes on screen.

Stephanie Dunnam, 40, and her son, Heston Dunnam, 4, pose at Leonardo’s Pizza By the Slice on University Avenue on Tuesday.

METRO

Kickstarter for “The ‘Lil’ Engineer That Could’” dream memory book

By Tanima Mehrotra | Aug. 6, 2014

Heston Dunnam is obsessed with trains.

Pedro Bravo sits with his counsel in the Alachua County Courthouse on Monday, the first day of his trial. Bravo is accused of first-degree murder, kidnapping, poisoning, mishandling human remains and giving false reports.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedro Bravo jury selected, trial begins Tuesday

By Alex Harris | Aug. 4, 2014

The long-awaited trial of Pedro Bravo begins today at 9 a.m.

METRO

Woman celebrates birthday by raising cancer research funds

By Aldo Araujo | Aug. 4, 2014

A Central Florida business owner is celebrating turning 40 by running 26.2 miles to benefit local cancer research.

METRO

Study: Fist bumps reduce spread of germs

By Claudia Stantzyk-Guzek | Aug. 4, 2014

A popular friendly greeting may not be as innocent as it seems.

METRO

Bikers bare (almost) all in nearly nude bike ride for awareness

By Gigi Pena | Aug. 4, 2014

Gainesville Police may not be worried about this type of crack hitting Gainesville’s streets. A local bicycle shop is hosting a nearly naked bike run to raise awareness of the visibility of cyclists and alternative transportation.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

High Springs man flees police, crashes into pole

By Kyle Follansbee | July 30, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a High Springs man after fleeing a traffic stop, crashing into a light pole and running on foot Tuesday morning.

Drew Baker, a 20-year-old UF economics major, prepares to block a spike from 20-year-old aerospace engineer major Shanna Wyatt. The volleyball game was part of “Spike-it-with-Senate,” a charity volleyball tournament.

METRO | POLITICS

Student Senate updates statutes, removes positions

By Alex Harris | July 30, 2014

This Summer’s student senators took on the task of revising the Student Body statutes.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Two men stranded in cherry picker, had to be rescued by firefighters

By GRAHAM HACK | July 30, 2014

Cutting tree limbs is far from fun, and when you get stuck on a cherry picker while doing it on a hot July afternoon, it’s downright miserable.

Daniel Helfrich, a 19-year-old UF classics junior, stands beside his newly bartered red pepper in the parking lot of Chili’s on Archer Road before it went missing.

METRO

UF student’s stolen chili remains hot subject

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

Even after bringing the heat, Daniel Helfrich’s man-sized pepper is still missing, but the Internet-famous UF student has high hopes and police are on the lookout.

METRO

City discusses mandating cyclists to register bikes

By Griffin Horvath | July 28, 2014

Future residents of Gainesville may have to leap over a few hurdles before hopping on a bicycle.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Beta Theta Pi to appear in court for busted toga party

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

A weekend toga party may cost more than a cover charge for the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Bullet holes dot the wall at Campus Walk Apartments on Monday. Michael Dennison, 41, fired at apartment 50 on Wednesday after getting into an argument with friends.

METRO

Shooting at Campus Walk Apartments, no one was hurt

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

On the night of the shooting, Larry McLamara had just returned from the store. He bought a four pack of Natural Ice beer and a pack of Clifford cigarettes.

Eleanor McKenna, a 23-year-old “cupcake elf” at Sarkara Sweets downtown, waits to help incoming customers on Monday.

METRO

Cupcake store battles summer slump

By Lindsey Cook-Saucier | July 28, 2014

Three girls sat huddled in the corner of Sarkara Sweets, playing the word game Scattergories in silence.