Missing USF doctoral student Zamil Limon found dead; roommate taken into custody
By Meleah Lyden
April 24, 2026 at 5:34 AM EDT
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said his remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge. His girlfriend, Nahida Bristy, is still missing.
One of the missing University of South Florida doctoral students was found dead on Friday, while authorities are still actively searching for the other.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said 27-year-old Zamil Limon's remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning. His girlfriend, 27-year-old Nahida Bristy, is still missing.
Law enforcement dive teams were searching the bay near the bridge as part of those efforts, the sheriff's office said.
Limon's roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, is a suspect, authorities said.
https://x.com/HCSOSheriff/status/2047775107771257107
He was taken into custody Friday and has been charged with domestic violence, simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report death to medical examiner or law enforcement and unlawfully hold or move a dead human body in unapproved condition, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
He was expected to make a first appearance in court Saturday morning.
Abugharbieh had been a USF student but was not currently enrolled. University records showed he had attended the school from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, and had pursued a BS in Management, a university spokeswoman said.
During a Friday news conference, Hillsborough Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said authorities received a domestic violence call around 9 a.m. in the Lake Forest Community, just north of the Tampa campus, near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Lake Forest Drive. The sheriff's office said this was an unrelated incident involving Abugharbieh.
They were able to get his family out of the house and commanded him to come out, but Abugharbieh refused, Maurer said. Around 10:36 a.m., a SWAT team responded — along with a drone, a robot and crisis negotiators — before Abugarbieh came out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel. He was taken into custody.
Limon and Bristy were a couple from Bangladesh, and both attended USF on student visas. They were last seen on April 16 at USF's campus in Tampa, according to a statement from the University of South Florida Police Department.
Bristy did not live with Limon. She lived on USF's campus.
Investigators spoke with Abugharbieh, who is a native-born U.S. citizen, on Thursday, Maurer said, but after initially talking, Abugharbieh chose to end the interview. He said Abugharbieh was speaking with detectives again after his arrest Friday morning.
Authorities said they were able to link Abugharbieh to the case. They are awaiting the autopsy results for the manner and cause of death. As of right now, they have no reason to believe the suspect was working with anybody else.
Maurer asked for the public's help in locating Bristy.
"I implore the community. If you have any tips, and where you've seen her, or if she was just recently seen, please report it to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately so we can recover her to safety," Maurer said.
The sheriff's office asks anyone with information about Bristy's whereabouts to call 813-247-8200.
In a message to the university, USF President Moez Limayem described how investigators say this is an "isolated situation that occurred off campus" and that there is no ongoing threat to the safety of the university community.
"In recent days, members of the USF leadership team have spoken directly with the families and friends of the students to offer our support and assure them that we have been doing everything possible to assist in this case. We will continue to stay in close contact with them to provide any help that we can," Limayem said.
Limon, who was studying geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home in a student apartment complex. Bristy, who was studying chemical engineering, was last seen an hour later at a campus science building.
A family friend contacted authorities last Friday after being unable to contact either one, USF police said.
On Thursday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office elevated its case to "endangered."
"Based on new information, detectives now believe the circumstances surrounding their disappearance warrant this classification," the sheriff's office said in a social media post.
Friends and family described their lack of communication as out of character.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” Md. Rakibuzzaman, a graduate student at the University of Georgia and a close friend of Limon, told Tampa television station WFLA. “It’s a pretty complex puzzle to me."
Zubaer Ahmed, Limon’s younger brother, told WTVT in Tampa that they last spoke three days before he disappeared, and that Limon told him he was very busy working on his thesis, which involves using generative AI to study Florida’s shrinking wetlands. Ahmed said Limon and Bristy were discussing a potential future marriage, but were focusing on getting through their degrees first.
According to USF President Limayem, students needing support can access Timely Care 24/7 or in-person counseling services on campus. Resources for faculty and staff are available through the Employee Assistance Program.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the detectives are working tirelessly to uncover the truth.
"“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” Chronister said. "We will continue to follow every fact, pursue every lead, and use every tool available to hold those responsible fully accountable. Our thoughts remain with the families of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy during this time.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Associated Press, WUSF staff writer Carl Lisciandrello, and WUSF editor Mark Schreiner contributed to this report.
(512x640, AR: 0.8)
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said 27-year-old Zamil Limon's remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning. His girlfriend, 27-year-old Nahida Bristy, is still missing.
Law enforcement dive teams were searching the bay near the bridge as part of those efforts, the sheriff's office said.
Limon's roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, is a suspect, authorities said.
https://x.com/HCSOSheriff/status/2047775107771257107
He was taken into custody Friday and has been charged with domestic violence, simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report death to medical examiner or law enforcement and unlawfully hold or move a dead human body in unapproved condition, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
He was expected to make a first appearance in court Saturday morning.
Abugharbieh had been a USF student but was not currently enrolled. University records showed he had attended the school from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, and had pursued a BS in Management, a university spokeswoman said.
During a Friday news conference, Hillsborough Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said authorities received a domestic violence call around 9 a.m. in the Lake Forest Community, just north of the Tampa campus, near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Lake Forest Drive. The sheriff's office said this was an unrelated incident involving Abugharbieh.
They were able to get his family out of the house and commanded him to come out, but Abugharbieh refused, Maurer said. Around 10:36 a.m., a SWAT team responded — along with a drone, a robot and crisis negotiators — before Abugarbieh came out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel. He was taken into custody.
Limon and Bristy were a couple from Bangladesh, and both attended USF on student visas. They were last seen on April 16 at USF's campus in Tampa, according to a statement from the University of South Florida Police Department.
Bristy did not live with Limon. She lived on USF's campus.
Investigators spoke with Abugharbieh, who is a native-born U.S. citizen, on Thursday, Maurer said, but after initially talking, Abugharbieh chose to end the interview. He said Abugharbieh was speaking with detectives again after his arrest Friday morning.
Authorities said they were able to link Abugharbieh to the case. They are awaiting the autopsy results for the manner and cause of death. As of right now, they have no reason to believe the suspect was working with anybody else.
Maurer asked for the public's help in locating Bristy.
"I implore the community. If you have any tips, and where you've seen her, or if she was just recently seen, please report it to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately so we can recover her to safety," Maurer said.
The sheriff's office asks anyone with information about Bristy's whereabouts to call 813-247-8200.
In a message to the university, USF President Moez Limayem described how investigators say this is an "isolated situation that occurred off campus" and that there is no ongoing threat to the safety of the university community.
"In recent days, members of the USF leadership team have spoken directly with the families and friends of the students to offer our support and assure them that we have been doing everything possible to assist in this case. We will continue to stay in close contact with them to provide any help that we can," Limayem said.
Limon, who was studying geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home in a student apartment complex. Bristy, who was studying chemical engineering, was last seen an hour later at a campus science building.
A family friend contacted authorities last Friday after being unable to contact either one, USF police said.
On Thursday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office elevated its case to "endangered."
"Based on new information, detectives now believe the circumstances surrounding their disappearance warrant this classification," the sheriff's office said in a social media post.
Friends and family described their lack of communication as out of character.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” Md. Rakibuzzaman, a graduate student at the University of Georgia and a close friend of Limon, told Tampa television station WFLA. “It’s a pretty complex puzzle to me."
Zubaer Ahmed, Limon’s younger brother, told WTVT in Tampa that they last spoke three days before he disappeared, and that Limon told him he was very busy working on his thesis, which involves using generative AI to study Florida’s shrinking wetlands. Ahmed said Limon and Bristy were discussing a potential future marriage, but were focusing on getting through their degrees first.
According to USF President Limayem, students needing support can access Timely Care 24/7 or in-person counseling services on campus. Resources for faculty and staff are available through the Employee Assistance Program.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the detectives are working tirelessly to uncover the truth.
"“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” Chronister said. "We will continue to follow every fact, pursue every lead, and use every tool available to hold those responsible fully accountable. Our thoughts remain with the families of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy during this time.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Associated Press, WUSF staff writer Carl Lisciandrello, and WUSF editor Mark Schreiner contributed to this report.
(512x640, AR: 0.8)