The Dateline (True Crime Murder TV) episode “Circle of Friends” investigates the 2012 death of 18-year-old Christian Aguilar, a freshman at University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Aguilar was dating Erika Friman, the ex-girlfriend of Aguilar’s childhood friend Pedro Bravo. When Bravo discovered that the two were dating, he set out to win Friman back. In August 2014, Bravo was found guilty of murdering Aguilar. Bravo poisoned Aguilar, strangled him with a belt, and then dumped his body in a swamp. Aguilar was missing for 22 days before his body was found. Bravo was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prior to Bravo’s conviction, in April 2013, Friman shared a link to Change.org, a petition to State Attorney William P. Cervone requesting the death penalty in “State of Florida vs. Bravo, Pedro Andres.” Cervone decided not to seek the death penalty against Bravo. He explained: “When I look at his (Bravo’s) lack of record and his age and what I know must be some mental health issue, I know, on balance, I just did not think it qualified (for the death penalty) under what the law requires.” Cervone said. “The emotional reaction is, this is horrible, but I just don’t think it qualifies.“ Dateline airs Fridays at 10pm on ABC.
