Arrest in missing USF students case
The body of missing University of South Florida student 27-year-old Zamil Limon was found Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge, and his roommate has been arrested as the search continues for 27-year-old Nahida Bristy. FOX 13’s Genevieve Curtis reports.
TAMPA, Fla. – The body of missing University of South Florida student 27-year-old Zamil Limon was found Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge, and his roommate has been arrested as the search continues for 27-year-old Nahida Bristy.
What we know:
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a domestic violence call around 9 a.m. on Friday morning in the Lake Forest subdivision, which is just north of USF.
HCSO Deputy Chief Joseph Maurer said they knew the call for help involved 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, who was interviewed on Thursday in connection with the disappearance of Limon and Bristy.
Maurer said deputies got the family out of the home, but Abugharbieh refused to leave.
The entrance and exit of the Lake Forest Community was closed on Friday morning as law enforcement officers investigate the disappearance of two USF grad students.
The SWAT team was called to the scene and commanded Abugharbieh to exit the home.
Suspect arrested
He eventually surrendered and exited the home peacefully, according to Maurer.
Abugharbieh was taken into custody and charged with domestic violence-simple battery, domestic violence-false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report death to the medical examiner’s office or law enforcement, unlawfully hold or move a human dead body in unapproved conditions.
Maurer said detectives believe Abugharbieh, who is a former USF student, acted alone.
According to jail records, Abugharbieh had a conviction for burglary and battery in 2023, domestic violence in 2023 and domestic violence again in 2025.
In at least one of those cases, a restraining order was granted. The domestic violence case records are sealed.
Officials added that Limon and Abugharbieh did not live in the Lake Forest subdivision. According to authorities, the home in Lake Forest was Abugharbieh’s family’s residence.
Bristy, according to police, lived on the USF campus.
Missing USF students
The backstory:
USFPD says Limon, a USF doctoral student pursuing a degree in geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen around 9 a.m. at his home on Avalon Heights Blvd. on April 16.
Bristy, a USF doctoral student studying chemical engineering, was last seen around 10 a.m. on April 16 at the NES Building, 121 USF Sweetgum Lane, on the USF Tampa campus.
Police said a family friend contacted USFPD shortly before 5 p.m. on April 17 after they were unable to contact Limon or Bristy.
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy have not been seen since April 16.
The search for Nahida Bristy continues
After Limon’s remains were discovered, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Marine and Dive teams were in the water near the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday afternoon searching for Bristy.
Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
What we don’t know:
The motive for the killing is unknown.
Bristy’s location is also unknown.
What they’re saying:
“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “While the discovery of Zamil Limon’s remains is heartbreaking, I want the public to know that our detectives worked and are working tirelessly and relentlessly to uncover the truth. 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.”
Dr. Bryanna Fox is a former FBI special agent. She is now the co-director of the USF Center for Justice Research and Policy.
Fox was not involved in the case but says the discovery of Limon’s body Friday, evidence in Sand Key and other developments speaks to the suspect’s state of mind.
“The fact that the evidence was scattered so far throughout the Tampa Bay region, to me that suggests this is someone that is just literally dumping things. So not a lot of a forethought,” Fox said.
Fox said it seems likely the body was recently left on the Howard Frankland Bridge amid all the coverage of Limon and Bristy’s disappearance.
“And you have to wonder, why was that site selected if it is so public?” Fox said.
Fox said Abugharbieh’s criminal history suggests a rapid escalation of violence in a short time — which could ultimately tie to the motive of this puzzling crime.
“In the cases like this where it’s people that know each other and the victim is approximately the same age group, but they’re not romantically involved, typically the motive, statistically at least, has to do with things like finances, jealousy or some type of fight that led to a tragic death. That would be like the heat of the moment kind of a homicide. It could be that this happened because there was an explosion of anger, and it could have been over a very small trigger,” Fox said.
What’s next:
An autopsy will be conducted to determine Limon’s manner and cause of death. Investigators say the earliest to expect the results is Saturday.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on this case or who may know Bristy’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200.
The Source: This article was written with information gathered by FOX 13’s Evan Axelbank, the USF Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and previous FOX 13 News reports.
