The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Friday, April 24, 2026, that the body of Zamil Limon, a doctoral student at the University of South Florida (USF), was recovered from the Howard Frankland Bridge. The discovery follows a multi-day search for Limon and his girlfriend, Nahida Bristy, both of whom were reported missing earlier this week. While Limon’s remains have been identified, Bristy remains missing, prompting an intensive search operation involving law enforcement dive teams in the waters of Tampa Bay.
Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer announced that Limon’s roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugharbeih, was taken into custody following a standoff with tactical units. Abugharbeih faces several preliminary charges, including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery. Authorities stated that the suspect was apprehended at his family’s residence located north of the USF campus. The arrest occurred after a tense confrontation that required the deployment of specialized units to ensure the safety of the surrounding residential area.
The investigation escalated on Friday morning when deputies responded to a report of domestic violence at the Abugharbeih residence. Upon arrival, law enforcement successfully evacuated the suspect’s family members to safety. However, Abugharbeih barricaded himself inside the home, refusing to comply with police orders for several hours before ultimately being detained. Information obtained during the standoff led investigators to the Howard Frankland Bridge, where Limon’s body was located. The bridge, a major artery connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg, remained partially restricted during the recovery operation.
Zamil Limon was a Bangladeshi national pursuing advanced studies at USF. The incident has drawn attention to the safety of the international student population in the United States, which currently includes over 10,000 students from Bangladesh. The University of South Florida, a major research institution with a significant global enrollment, has seen its administration coordinate closely with local law enforcement to address campus safety concerns following the disappearance. University officials have offered counseling services to the student body as the community processes the news of the doctoral student's death.
Chief Deputy Maurer emphasized that the primary focus of the Sheriff’s Office remains the recovery of Nahida Bristy. Search and recovery teams are currently utilizing sonar and divers to scan the area surrounding the bridge. Abugharbeih is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Saturday morning, where a judge will determine bond conditions and formalize the charges. Legal experts note that the charge of unlawfully moving a dead body is a serious felony in the state of Florida, often carrying significant prison time.
The case highlights the complexities of jurisdictional coordination between campus police and county sheriff departments. Historical data from the Department of Education suggests that while violent crime on large public university campuses remains statistically low, incidents involving international students often require coordination with federal authorities and foreign consulates. The Bangladeshi consulate has been notified of the developments involving their citizens as the investigation into the circumstances of Limon's death continues. Law enforcement has requested that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nahida Bristy contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office immediately.