Who is Hisham Abugharbieh? USF student roommate arrested after Zamil Limon was found dead on Howard Frankland Bridge as police continue searching for missing student Nahida Bristy.
By: Sumit Kumar
Last Updated: April 25, 2026 01:26:13 IST
Investigators have arrested Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, after responding to a domestic violence call linked to the case. (Photo: Social Media)
Authorities investigating the disappearance of two doctoral students from the University of South Florida have made a breakthrough after confirming that one student was found dead and a suspect is now in custody. Police recovered the body of 27-year-old Zamil Limon from the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday, while the search continues for Nahida Bristy, who remains missing.
Investigators have arrested Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, after responding to a domestic violence call linked to the case. Officials say the investigation remains active, with many key questions still unanswered.
Who is Hisham Abugharbieh?
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, has emerged as the central figure in the investigation into the disappearance of the two graduate students. Authorities identified him as the roommate of Zamil Limon.
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Deputies responded to a domestic violence call at a home in the Lake Forest subdivision near the university on Friday morning. Officials removed family members safely from the house, but Abugharbieh initially refused to come out, forcing officers to call in a SWAT team. He later surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody.
Police have filed several charges against him, including:
Domestic violence battery
False imprisonment
Tampering with evidence
Failure to report a death
Unlawfully moving a human body
Investigators believe he acted alone, though the motive remains unclear.
Background on the Missing USF Students Case
The case began when Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old doctoral students, disappeared on April 16.
Limon, who studied geography, environmental science, and policy, was last seen around 9 a.m. at his home. About an hour later, Bristy—who was pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering—was last seen at the NES Building on the USF campus.
Concern grew after a family friend reported being unable to contact either of them on April 17. Police later classified the pair as “endangered” after several days without contact.
Officials also noted that both students’ phones were turned off, which investigators described as highly unusual behaviour.
Zamil Limon Found Dead on Howard Frankland Bridge
The investigation took a tragic turn when authorities discovered Limon’s body on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning. Law enforcement temporarily closed lanes on the bridge while conducting forensic work connected to the case.
Officials confirmed that the discovery is directly linked to the missing students investigation. However, they have not yet released details about the exact cause of death. An autopsy is expected to determine how he died.
Where is Nahida Bristy?
While investigators confirmed Limon’s death, Nahida Bristy remains missing, and authorities continue searching for her.
Police say her disappearance remains one of the most urgent parts of the investigation. Officers have expanded search operations across multiple counties, hoping to locate her or gather new clues about her last known movements.
Family members and investigators have appealed to the public for information that could help locate Bristy.
What We Know and What Remains Unknown
Investigators have confirmed several major developments, but key details are still missing.
What we know:
Zamil Limon was found dead on April 24
Hisham Abugharbieh is in custody
Nahida Bristy is still missing
The case began with a missing persons investigation
What remains unknown:
The exact motive behind the crime
The cause of Limon’s death
Bristy’s current location
The events leading to the disappearance
Authorities continue reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses to reconstruct the timeline of events.
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