Authorities in Tampa have arrested a man after the remains of one of two missing University of South Florida (USF) doctoral students were discovered on the Howard Franklin Bridge.
Zamil Limon, 27, was found deceased Friday morning, according to Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of death has not yet been released pending autopsy results. Limon and Nahida Bristy, also 27, were last seen in the Tampa area on April 16, and Bristy remains missing. Dive teams are currently searching near the bridge for her, the sheriff’s office said.
The arrested individual is 26-year-old Hisham Abugarbieh, who was Limon’s roommate. Deputies detained him following a domestic violence call at a residence in the Lake Forest Community, close to USF’s Tampa campus. He faces charges including domestic violence, evidence tampering, and failure to report a death to law enforcement.
During the arrest, Abugarbieh barricaded himself inside the home but eventually surrendered peacefully. The Lake Forest Community entrance was temporarily closed due to law enforcement activity.
The sheriff’s office elevated Limon and Bristy’s status to endangered on Thursday after receiving new information, though details have not been disclosed. Bristy’s family has expressed their distress over her disappearance, noting she normally maintained daily contact with them.
Limon was pursuing a doctorate focused on artificial intelligence applications in environmental science and was scheduled to present his thesis this week. Bristy was studying chemical engineering.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and well-being of students in the Tampa area and the importance of prompt law enforcement response in missing persons investigations. The arrest of a roommate on serious charges deepens the investigation’s complexity.
Background
The University of South Florida is a major research institution, and recent cases of missing students have raised alarm calls in the community. Law enforcement’s swift action, including upgrading the students’ status to endangered, reflects growing concerns over their disappearances.
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