University of South Florida case turns into double murder probe after Zamil Limon’s remains found

Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, the former University of South Florida student who lived with Zamil Limon, has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, two 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh who disappeared in Tampa on April 16. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said evidence presented to the State Attorney’s Office led to the additional murder charges after Zamil Limon’s remains were found Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge and the search for Nahida Bristy continued.

Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh made an initial court appearance Saturday in Tampa, where he was ordered held without bond. A hearing has been set for April 28. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was already in custody before the new murder charges were added.

Zamil Limon’s remains were discovered Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. Nahida Bristy remained missing as authorities continued search operations. Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer had said Friday that investigators were still actively searching for Nahida Bristy.

Why did the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office upgrade the University of South Florida case to murder charges?

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office moved the case into a more serious legal phase after presenting evidence to the State Attorney’s Office. That evidence resulted in Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh being charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. The charging decision came one day after authorities confirmed that Zamil Limon’s remains had been found on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

The new charges mark a major change from the preliminary allegations announced after Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh’s arrest. Before the murder counts were added, Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh had faced charges including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery. Those earlier charges reflected the evidence authorities had publicly disclosed at the time, while the murder charges indicate that prosecutors and investigators now believe the case supports allegations of intentional homicide.

The institutional significance is clear. What began as a missing persons investigation involving two University of South Florida doctoral students has become a double murder case, even though Nahida Bristy’s body has not been publicly confirmed as found. That point matters because it shows prosecutors can file homicide charges when they believe evidence establishes a death, even if the search for a victim’s remains is still active.

What is known about Zamil Limon’s remains and the search for Nahida Bristy in Tampa?

Zamil Limon’s remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge, a major bridge route across Tampa Bay. Authorities confirmed the discovery Friday after a search that began when Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were reported missing. An autopsy was expected to determine the cause and manner of Zamil Limon’s death.

Nahida Bristy remained missing after the discovery of Zamil Limon’s remains. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the search for Nahida Bristy continued, and the public was asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with information about her disappearance. CBS News reported that Nahida Bristy’s family had been told police believed Nahida Bristy was likely dead, but authorities publicly continued to describe the search as active.

That distinction is important for readers following the case. Law enforcement has filed murder charges connected to both Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, but the public search for Nahida Bristy remains unresolved. Until authorities release further findings, the confirmed facts are that Zamil Limon’s remains were recovered, Nahida Bristy has not been publicly located, and Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh faces two murder counts.

How were Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy connected to the University of South Florida and Bangladesh?

Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were both 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh at the University of South Florida. Zamil Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy. Nahida Bristy was studying chemical engineering. The Associated Press reported that Nahida Bristy was a graduate of Noakhali Science and Technology University, which identified Nahida Bristy as a doctoral candidate and expressed sorrow over her death.

The University of South Florida connection is central to the case because both victims were graduate researchers and part of the international student community in Tampa. Zamil Limon had attended the University of South Florida since fall 2024, while Nahida Bristy had attended the University of South Florida since fall 2025. WUSF reported that both were in the United States on student visas.

The Bangladesh connection has widened the emotional and public interest around the case. The deaths of two doctoral students studying abroad can resonate strongly across immigrant communities, university networks and international education circles. For families who send students overseas, the case touches on the vulnerability of students living far from home while navigating housing, campus life and research commitments in another country.

What did authorities say about Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh’s arrest near the University of South Florida?

Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh was arrested Friday at his family’s home, north of the University of South Florida campus, after deputies responded to a domestic violence call. Authorities said relatives were moved to safety before Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside the residence. A SWAT team, crisis negotiators, a drone and a robot were deployed before Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh came out with his hands up.

CBS News reported that deputies took Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh into custody on the same day Zamil Limon was found dead. Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh also faced charges including battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death and unlawfully moving a body.

The arrest matters because it links two law enforcement tracks: the domestic violence response at a residence near the University of South Florida and the investigation into the disappearance of the two doctoral students. Authorities have also said Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh was not a current University of South Florida student or employee, which is relevant to how the university has framed campus safety risk.

Why has the University of South Florida said there is no ongoing threat to campus safety?

University of South Florida President Moez Limayem said investigators had previously noted that the incidents occurred off campus and that Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh acted alone. The University of South Florida president also said there was no ongoing threat to the safety of the university community.

The university’s statement is important because cases involving students can create uncertainty across campus, especially when a suspect has a prior connection to the institution. WUSF reported that Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh was born in the United States, is a United States citizen, and was not a current University of South Florida student or employee. The Associated Press reported that university records showed Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh attended the University of South Florida from spring 2021 through spring 2023 and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Management.

The broader institutional concern is student safety beyond the physical campus boundary. Zamil Limon was last seen at his home in an off-campus apartment complex where he lived with Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh. Nahida Bristy, who lived off campus, was last seen about an hour later at a campus science building. That split between campus and off-campus locations helps explain why the case involves both university police concerns and county sheriff’s office jurisdiction.

What unanswered questions remain in the Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy murder case?

The first unresolved question is the location of Nahida Bristy. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has charged Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh with murder in Nahida Bristy’s death, but authorities have also said the search for Nahida Bristy continues. That makes the search both a humanitarian priority for her family and a central evidentiary issue in the case.

The second unresolved question is the cause and manner of Zamil Limon’s death. Authorities said an autopsy was being conducted. The results will be important for prosecutors, investigators and the public record because they may clarify how Zamil Limon died and how the murder charge is expected to be argued in court.

The third unresolved question is the timeline between April 16, when Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were last seen, and April 24, when Zamil Limon’s remains were found. Investigators have not publicly released a full sequence of events. Until more court documents, search findings or medical examiner results become public, the confirmed timeline remains limited to the disappearance, the discovery of Zamil Limon’s remains, the arrest of Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, and the filing of murder charges.

What are the key takeaways from the murder charges in the University of South Florida doctoral students case?

• Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh was ordered held without bond after an initial court appearance Saturday in Tampa, marking the first major court step since prosecutors added murder charges in the deaths of the two University of South Florida doctoral students.
• Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, moving the case from a missing persons investigation into a double murder prosecution.
• Zamil Limon’s remains were found Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, giving investigators their first confirmed recovery in the case after the two doctoral students disappeared on April 16.
• Nahida Bristy remained missing after the murder charges were announced, keeping the search active even as authorities moved forward with homicide allegations connected to both University of South Florida students.
• Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh at the University of South Florida, making the case a major concern for the university community, international students and Bangladeshi families following the investigation.