TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities in Florida have discovered another body in waters near the same Tampa Bay bridge where one of two missing doctoral students was located just days ago.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported Sunday evening that the remains were pulled from waterways around Interstate 275. Officials have not yet released the identity of the person found.
On Friday morning, investigators located the body of Zamil Limon on the Howard Frankland bridge. Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer stated that same day that search efforts continued for Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy. Specialized dive teams had been combing the bay waters surrounding the bridge structure.
The sheriff’s office announced Saturday that Hisham Abugharbieh, who shared living quarters with Limon, faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon for the deaths of both victims. The 26-year-old former University of South Florida student remains in custody without bond, with a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.
Both victims, Limon and Bristy, were 27-year-old USF students who had been discussing marriage plans, according to family members. The pair vanished from campus on April 16. Limon was last spotted at his residence in an off-campus housing complex he shared with Abugharbieh. Bristy, who also lived off-campus, was seen an hour afterward at a university science facility.
Limon pursued studies in geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy focused on chemical engineering. She had earned her undergraduate degree from Noakhali Science and Technology University. Her alma mater released a statement Saturday calling her a gifted Ph.D. candidate with tremendous potential, spelling her surname as Brishti.
Abugharbieh, an American citizen by birth, was initially arrested Friday at his family residence on various preliminary charges including improper handling of human remains, failure to notify authorities of a death, evidence destruction, unlawful confinement and assault. Public defender records do not show legal representation, and attempts to reach the Hillsborough County public defender’s office were unsuccessful.
Law enforcement officers arrived at Abugharbieh’s family home responding to a domestic violence call just north of the university campus, successfully evacuating his relatives to safety. He then locked himself inside and refused to surrender. A SWAT team deployment included drone technology, robotic equipment and trained negotiators before Abugharbieh emerged with raised hands, reportedly dressed only in a blue towel.
University records indicate Abugharbieh previously attended USF from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Management, but was not currently registered for classes, according to a university representative.
