Zamil Limon, right, and Nahida Bristy were reported missing last week. Authorities say Limon’s remains were found Friday, April 24.
Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
By Alisha Durosier, Julia Ferrara and Jasmin Parrado
Hearts are heavy across the University of South Florida this month after two missing 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh were confirmed dead.
Zamil Limon, a geography, environmental science and policy student and Nahida Bristy, a chemical engineering student, were reported missing on April 17 after a family friend was unable to reach them.
Both students were last seen on April 16, Bristy in the Natural & Environmental Science building of the USF Tampa campus and Limon at his Tampa apartment complex – a week later, on April 24, his decomposing remains were found on Howard Frankland Bridge.
Limon’s death was officially ruled a homicide. He was confirmed to have died from multiple sharp force injuries, including stab wounds to his lower back.
Limon’s roommate, Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, was taken into custody on the preliminary charges of moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery.
On April 25, Abugharbieh’s charges were upgraded to two counts of first-degree murder for both Limon and Bristy’s deaths, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
A day later, more human remains were found in the same vicinity off Howard Frankland Bridge.
Authorities shared with WSTP on April 29 that the decedent was found in clothes that matched what Bristy was last seen wearing, in a state similar to how Limon was discovered: in a trash bag with multiple stab wounds.
Though the decedent has yet to be positively identified, court documents deem that the remains are likely Bristy’s.
The Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joseph Maurer shared that they’ve been able to link Abugharbieh to the case.
“At this time, we have no indications that think he was not working alone, but again, active investigation,” Maurer told WFLA.
A CNN timeline noted how court documents revealed that a week before Bristy and Limon went missing, Abugharbieh purchased lighter fuel, trash bags, duct tape and fire starter from Amazon between April 7 and 11.
Two days later, questions like “What happens if a human has a put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster” surfaced in Abugharbieh’s ChatGPT conversation history, verbatim.
Abugharbieh’s ChatGPT interactions did not end there. In fact, extensive dialogue aligned with evidence and developments on the students’ disappearances.
The day that Bristy and Limon disappeared, the suspect asked ChatGPT whether cars are checked at the Hillsborough River State Park.
A week later, when both students were officially deemed “endangered,” he asked, “What does missing endangered adult mean?”
Additional factors, like visible cuts on Abugharbieh’s body and his changing story regarding his detected presence in Clearwater, further alerted investigators, as CNN noted.
Abugharbieh has a prior record, including domestic violence petitions, battery and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, but they were either dropped or classified as misdemeanors.
He currently awaits trial without bond.
USF students and tenants expressed concern that Abugharbieh’s record did not disqualify him from residing at Avalon Heights.
An ongoing student-led petition with more than 299 signatures is calling for review and reform of safety procedures for off-campus student housing and USF-facing residences.
USF students shared their thoughts on the situation.
“It is really concerning because, like I said, it is really close to home,” a student said to a WFLA reporter.
“It’s really shocking, just because I’ve been here for 3 years and I haven’t really seen anything like this,” another student shared.
USF President Moez Limayem sent a university-wide email on April 25 sharing updates about the case as well as services staff and students can access if needed.
“In recent days, members of the USF leadership team have spoken directly with the families and friends of the students to offer our support and assure them that we have been doing everything possible to assist in this case,” Limayem said. “We will continue to stay in close contact with them to provide any help that we can.”
Zahid Hasan Pranto, Bristy’s brother, shared a Facebook post on April 26 with a joint statement attached from both students’ families.
“This is the final plea to the authorities on behalf of our family and Jamil’s family,” Pranto’s translated post read. “May Allah grant their departed souls a place of honor in Jannah. Our loss is indescribable and can never be compensated for by anything. On behalf of myself and our families, I humbly request that we do not post anything disrespectful about them for the sake of a few ‘likes.’ Please, pray for them instead.”
Limon’s brother, Zubaer Ahmed, told FOX 13 that both Bristy and Limon shared qualities as hard-working and intelligent students, and they were significantly close. Limon’s family seeks answers.
“We just want justice and accountability as well, because it’s not only about Jamil or Naheeda, it is about all international students,” Ahmed said.
Both families have expressed in the joint statement that Abugharbieh and any involved persons receive the highest form of punishment for the students’ deaths.
A GoFundMe page for Limon and Bristy’s families has been posted and is receiving donations to date.
To honor Bristy and Limon, an on-campus vigil will be held at USF Tampa’s Crescent Hill on Friday, May 1, at 4 p.m. Attendees may bring flowers and mementos but are asked not to bring candles.
USF Athletics will also hold a moment of silence and feature tributes to the students on video boards for their games on Thursday and Friday, and USF’s commencement ceremonies will host a remembrance.
“I remember what it meant for my own family to have me far from home, and how even small moments of silence could bring worry,” Limayem wrote in another university-wide email on April 29. “I cannot begin to comprehend the pain that Nahida’s and Zamil’s families are enduring, but I want them – and all of you – to know that we are holding them close in our thoughts, and that their grief is shared across this university.”
Students can access Timely Care 24/7 or in-person counseling services on campus. Resources for faculty and staff are available through the Employee Assistance Program.
