'Deeply Disturbing': Missing Bangladeshi Student Found Dead On Florida Bridge, Girlfriend Still Unaccounted For

Last Updated:April 25, 2026, 23:00 IST

Police have arrested deceased Zamil Limon’s roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh

The search for two missing Bangladeshi doctoral students in Florida has taken a tragic turn, as authorities confirmed the discovery of 27-year-old Zamil Limon’s remains. Limon, who was pursuing a PhD at the University of South Florida (USF), was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. While the discovery has brought a somber end to the search for Limon, the mystery deepens regarding his partner and fellow student, Nahida S Bristy, who remains missing.

The Discovery and a Roommate’s Arrest

Limon’s body was located by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office early Friday morning. The discovery followed a week of desperate searching after both students disappeared on April 16. Shortly after the remains were identified, police arrested Limon’s roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, at a residence in North Tampa.

The arrest occurred after a tense, 20-minute barricade situation involving a SWAT team, prompted by an unrelated domestic violence call at the home. Abugharbieh eventually surrendered and now faces a litany of serious charges, including tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, unlawfully moving a dead body, battery, and false imprisonment. While an autopsy is currently underway to determine the exact cause of Limon’s death, Abugharbieh is being treated as a primary person of interest in the wider investigation.

The Search for Nahida Bristy Continues

Despite the grim news regarding Limon, the search for 27-year-old Nahida Bristy has intensified. Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen at the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building on the USF campus at approximately 10 am on April 16—just one hour after Limon was last spotted at his off-campus apartment.

Law enforcement dive teams have been deployed to search the waters of Tampa Bay near where Limon’s body was found. Authorities have reclassified both students as “endangered" due to the uncharacteristic lack of contact with their families in Bangladesh. Bristy’s family described her as a dedicated student who would never willingly disappear or miss her research commitments.

A Community in Mourning

The news has sent shockwaves through the USF campus and the South Asian community in Florida. Limon was a respected researcher in geography and environmental science, recently presenting his work on artificial intelligence at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. Relatives noted that the pair were close and had been discussing a future together.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister described the case as “deeply disturbing" and pledged that detectives are working relentlessly to uncover the truth. For the families in Bangladesh, the focus remains on finding Nahida.

News world 'Deeply Disturbing': Missing Bangladeshi Student Found Dead On Florida Bridge, Girlfriend Still Unaccounted For

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