A missing University of South Florida doctoral scholar was found useless Friday on a Tampa Bay bridge and his roommate was arrested as a suspect, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated.
Two Bangladeshi doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, had been missing since final week. But Limon’s physique was found Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge, and Bristy has nonetheless but to be found, the sheriff’s workplace stated.
“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” Sheriff Chad Chronister stated in a press release.
Limon’s roommate, Hisham Abugharbieh, was arrested Friday morning after legislation enforcement was known as to his house for a reported home violence incident, in line with Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer.
Abugharbieh, a 26-year-old former USF scholar, now faces prices of battery, false imprisonment, tampering with proof, failure to report a demise, and unlawfully transferring a useless physique, the sheriff’s workplace stated in a news release.
Limon and Bristy, each 27, have been reported missing by a household pal on April 17. They have been final seen across the college campus the day prior to this, in line with the college’s police.
A medical expert continues to be figuring out Limon’s trigger of demise and should share post-mortem outcomes over the weekend, Maurer stated.
Limon’s household has instructed NCS that they had grow to be determined for solutions about what occurred to the joyful, promising younger researcher.
As the investigation and seek for Bristy continues, Moez Limayem, the college’s president, stated his workers will stay involved with the students’ family members to supply assist.
“Please join me in praying for the families and friends of Zamil, and for the safe return of Nahida,” Limayem stated in a message to college and students.
Before his arrest Friday, Abugharbieh had been interviewed a minimum of twice by legislation enforcement. He was initially speaking to authorities however stopped cooperating as he was being questioned once more Thursday, Maurer stated.
By Friday, the chief deputy stated investigators have been in a position to “link the suspect to this case and to (Limon’s) body.”
During his arrest, Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside a house, requiring a SWAT staff and disaster negotiators to reply, the sheriff’s workplace stated. Video of his arrest reveals an armored automobile parked within the entrance yard as Abugharbieh walks out the entrance door together with his palms up and a shower towel tied round his waist.
The suspect had attended USF between 2021 and 2023 whereas he pursued a bachelor’s diploma in administration, a spokesperson for the college instructed NCS.
The students had been missing since final week, prompting pals in Florida and kinfolk in Bangladesh to search for solutions.
Before Limon’s physique was found, his brother instructed NCS the household was in “deep pain” awaiting information.
“It’s devastating for us,” Zubaer Ahmed stated. The brother stated his household has been anxiously following updates. “We are becoming numb. Anything could be possible. We just want to know the truth or what happened to them, it’s not possible that two students disappear out of nowhere.”
Limon was final seen on April 16 round 9 a.m. at his off-campus house, about three blocks from the college’s campus, police stated. He had been pursuing a level in geography, environmental science and coverage because the fall of 2024.
Bristy was final seen about an hour later on the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building on campus, police stated. She enrolled on the college final fall and was learning chemical engineering.
The following day, a household pal was unable to succeed in the pair and notified campus police.
Detectives had been following leads and conducting searches in a number of places when the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office elevated the pair’s standing to “endangered” on Thursday, citing new “information that has come to light.”
Limon had spoken extremely of Bristy to his household in Bangladesh, telling them he was courting her and the pair had mentioned the likelihood of marriage, his brother stated.
“He shared that she is a good girl, and she has a lot of talent, like she can sing and cook well,” Ahmed, the brother, stated.
Limon had been laborious at work on his thesis for the previous two years, learning find out how to use generative AI to observe shrinking wetland in South Florida, his brother stated.
“My brother is very decent and very simple person,” Ahmed stated. “He always put a smile on his face.”
After finishing his PhD, Limon wished to return to Bangladesh and get a job as a college professor, Ahmed stated.
This story has been up to date with extra data.