missing USF – Investigators say the remains of Zamil Limon were found on a Tampa bridge, and his roommate is in custody while police continue searching for Nahida Bristy.
A University of South Florida doctoral student who had been missing since mid-April was found dead Friday, authorities said, while investigators continue searching for another student.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said investigators located the remains of Zamil Limon on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa Friday morning.. Sheriff’s officials said Limon’s roommate. Hisham Abugharbieh. was taken into custody after police responded to an early-morning call tied to a domestic violence disturbance and a brief standoff.
Police said both Limon and fellow USF doctoral student Nahida Bristy, 27, went missing on April 16.. Authorities had been actively searching for Bristy as well. but the discovery of Limon’s remains shifts the investigation into a more urgent phase. with officials saying the circumstances surrounding both disappearances remain under review.. The sheriff said the cause of Limon’s death is still being determined.
Domestic call leads to custody in Tampa search
According to the sheriff, investigators received a 911 call around 9 a.m. involving a domestic violence disturbance at a residence where Abugharbieh had barricaded himself. Investigators said Abugharbieh had already been interviewed earlier during the ongoing investigation into the disappearances.
After a brief standoff, the suspect surrendered, the sheriff said.. Abugharbieh is facing several charges, including tampering with evidence, failure to report death and domestic violence, officials said.. The sheriff did not provide additional details about investigative steps beyond confirming that the situation had been resolved and one person is in custody.
For families and classmates of the missing students. the custody announcement can bring a measure of clarity while also deepening the worry that questions may take time to answer.. Domestic violence-related allegations. in particular. can change how investigators examine movements. access to phones or residences. and the timeline of events around the disappearances.
Search continues for Nahida Bristy
While investigators confirmed Limon’s remains, they said the search for Bristy is still ongoing.. Authorities previously updated her status from missing to endangered, indicating she was at risk of physical injury or death.. Sheriff’s officials did not provide new information about Bristy’s condition. and they said they had no further details at Friday’s news conference.
Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy.. Police said he was last seen at his Tampa residence at about 9 a.m.. on April 16.. Bristy, studying chemical engineering, was last seen at the University of South Florida Tampa campus at about 10 a.m.. on the same day, according to police.. Investigators said the two were friends and that a mutual acquaintance reported them missing to campus police.
The campus connection matters here: when students disappear, it’s not only law enforcement that mobilizes.. Universities often coordinate missing-person notices, distribute flyers, and encourage anyone with information to come forward.. The sheriff’s office urged the public to contact USF police with tips.
Why the timeline matters—and what’s next
Officials said they received new information that led to upgrading both students’ status to endangered before Limon’s remains were found.. That detail suggests investigators may have been weighing early evidence that raised immediate concerns—possibly related to access. communications. or the circumstances of the domestic disturbance call.
In cases like this. the most consequential question is often not just “where did someone go. ” but “what changed between the last confirmed sighting and the point when authorities escalated the case.” Investigators may review records such as phone location history. vehicle movement. entry logs. or camera footage in the hours after April 16—especially in a region where multiple routes connect neighborhoods. campus areas. and major bridges.
For the public. the geography of Tampa can make investigations feel both close and distant at once: a bridge search can be visually startling. but it’s also a reminder that missing-person cases can cover far more ground than anyone expects.. The discovery underscores that officials had likely narrowed attention to areas that could plausibly connect to the students’ last known locations.
Looking ahead. authorities will likely focus on two parallel tracks: determining how Limon died and piecing together a timeline that explains what happened to Bristy.. With charges filed against the roommate. investigators can also test whether evidence supports those allegations across the full timeframe of the disappearances.
In the meantime, Bristy’s family, friends, and fellow students are left with one confirmed loss and one unanswered absence.. Until authorities can locate her. every new piece of information—from routine observations to tips about last sightings—can influence the direction of the case and the speed at which it reaches resolution.