Photo: University of South Florida Police Department
Authorities in Tampa, Florida, announced that the remains of University of South Florida doctoral student Zamil Limon were discovered Friday (April 24) morning on the Howard Frankland bridge. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Limon’s roommate, Hisham Saleh Abugharbeih, was taken into custody on several preliminary charges, including domestic violence, battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully moving a body.
Investigators have been searching for Limon, 27, and fellow doctoral student Nahida Bristy since they were reported missing after last being seen on Thursday, April 16. Limon was last seen at his Tampa residence, while Bristy was last seen an hour later at a campus science building. Both students, originally from Bangladesh, were described by family as responsible and unlikely to disappear voluntarily.
On Friday, a family friend’s inability to reach either student prompted police to open missing person cases, leading to a weeklong search by local authorities and assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office forensic unit.
Sheriff Chad Chronister detailed that when officers responded to a domestic violence call at a residence near campus, Abugharbeih barricaded himself inside before surrendering to a SWAT team. The sheriff stated, “We are still actively searching for Nahida,” and appealed to the public for any information that could help locate her.
As the investigation continues, Bristy remains missing and authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.