ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The family of a local college student who investigators said was robbed and murdered in cold blood was happy to hear an arrest has been made in the case.
Jon-Paul Gonzalez, of Orange County, is accused in the killing of 21-year-old Michael Ault in September.
Authorities said that with the help of U.S. marshals, they were able to track down Gonzalez in Puerto Rico. He was arrested there and is now awaiting extradition back to Florida.
Investigators said Ault, a Valencia College student and local tutor, was taken to a vacant home, then robbed and murdered.
Shortly after Ault's death, his family launched an intense campaign by posting fliers in hopes of tracking down his killers.
Despite getting fewer than a dozen tips, investigators said they were able to hunt down Gonzalez.
Ault's family is currently on a family trip in Hawaii, one that was supposed to include him. They said it seemed pretty fitting that Gonzalez was apprehended while they were on the trip, especially after they spent eight weeks putting up fliers in hope of catching the killers.
"We were all together when the phone call came," said Jennifer Gramzinski, the victim's mother. "It was very fitting that the family was there when this happened."
Gramzinski is heartbroken and said she thinks about her son and his senseless murder almost all day, every day.
"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person, and I miss him so much," said Gramzinski.
"He truly was brilliant. He was so well-traveled, well-read."
Eyewitness News has kept in touch with Orange County detectives and Ault's family since we first spoke with them after the murder.
The other suspect involved in the case is still on the loose, and there is a $10,000 reward to find him. Anyone with information is asked to contact .authorities.