On Friday, April 24, 2026, authorities in Tampa, Florida confirmed the discovery of a body on the Howard Frankland Bridge, identified as one of two University of South Florida doctoral students who had been reported missing since April 16. The remains were found early in the morning, prompting an immediate response from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The body was later confirmed to be that of Zamil Limon, a 27-year-old student from Bangladesh studying geography, environmental science and policy at USF.
The discovery came shortly after law enforcement responded to a domestic violence call at a residence just north of the USF campus, where Limon had been living with his roommate, Hisham Saleh Abugharbeih. Officers arrived at the home around 9 a.m. Local time and found a volatile situation, leading to the evacuation of family members. Abugharbeih initially refused to exit the property, barricading himself inside before eventually surrendering peacefully after a SWAT team was deployed to the scene.
Following his arrest, Abugharbeih was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including domestic violence, simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death and unlawfully moving a body. Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer confirmed during a press briefing that Abugharbeih had been interviewed by investigators prior to his arrest but ended the session early. He later spoke with detectives again after being taken into custody.
No other suspects have been identified in the investigation at this time, according to Maurer. Authorities emphasized that the search for the second missing student, Nahida S. Bristy, remains active and ongoing. Bristy, also 27 and from Bangladesh, was pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering and had been living on campus. She was last seen approximately one hour after Limon on April 16, near a science building at USF.
The two students had been in a relationship and were reportedly considering marriage, a family friend told investigators. Their disappearance was first reported after a mutual acquaintance was unable to make contact with either of them for several days. USF police were notified, and a missing persons investigation was launched shortly thereafter.
As news of the discovery spread, traffic on the Howard Frankland Bridge was disrupted, with authorities confirming that two northbound lanes were closed due to police activity and the ongoing investigation. The closure caused significant delays during the morning commute, though lanes were gradually reopened as the scene was processed and cleared by investigators.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has stated that an autopsy is being performed on the remains found on the bridge to determine the exact cause and manner of death. Whereas no official findings have been released yet, the office confirmed that the investigation into both the death of Limon and the disappearance of Bristy continues without interruption.
USF officials have expressed their condolences to the families of both students and affirmed their cooperation with law enforcement. The university has made counseling services available to students and staff affected by the incident and continues to assist in the ongoing search for Bristy.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nahida Bristy or any details related to the case is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office or the University of South Florida Police Department. Investigators remain hopeful that public tips could aid in locating the missing student and bringing clarity to this tragic situation.
The next official update on the case is expected from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, though no specific time has been announced. Updates will be shared through official channels as they become available.
If you have any information that could assist in this investigation, please contact local authorities. Sharing verified updates from official sources helps ensure accurate information reaches those who demand it most.