Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy Obituary, Death: A missing persons case involving two University of South Florida doctoral students has taken a tragic turn after authorities confirmed that one of the students was found dead on a bridge connecting St. Petersburg and Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim was identified as 27-year-old Zamil Limon, a graduate student from Bangladesh pursuing studies in geography, environmental science, and policy. Officials said his remains were discovered on Friday during an ongoing investigation into his disappearance and that of fellow student Nahida Bristy, also 27, who remains missing.
Both Limon and Bristy were last seen last week in separate locations connected to the University of South Florida campus. Limon was last observed near his off-campus residence, located a short distance from the university, while Bristy was last seen at an academic building on campus where she was studying chemical engineering.
Authorities said concern for the pair grew after a family friend reported them missing when attempts to reach them were unsuccessful. The case was later escalated to “endangered” status as investigators uncovered new information prompting expanded search efforts across multiple locations.
Law enforcement officials also confirmed that 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, is in custody. He was arrested following a separate domestic violence-related incident and now faces multiple charges, including domestic battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawful movement of a body.
Investigators have not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding Limon’s death, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the ongoing case. Officials say the investigation remains active as they continue searching for Bristy and working to establish a clearer timeline of events.
The University of South Florida community, along with families in Bangladesh, continues to await answers as authorities pursue multiple leads in what remains a developing investigation.