Updated: Friday, 4:01 p.m.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, FL \u2014 The body of Zamil Limon, one of two University of South Florida doctoral students missing for over a week, was found Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge, the Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s Office said in a news release. <\/p>\n
The second student, Nahida S. Bristy, is still missing, and detectives continue to search areas near the bridge, the agency said. <\/p>\n
Find out what’s happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n
Limon\u2019s roommate, Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, was arrested Friday in connection with the case, after an unrelated domestic violence incident at a home in the 14000 block of Pine Glen Circle, according to HCSO. <\/p>\n
His charges include battery, false imprisonment, tampering with physical evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully holding or moving a dead body, deputies said. <\/p>\n
Find out what’s happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.<\/p>\n
Limon and Bristy, both 27, were last seen separately on April 16, USF police said in a news release.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office took over the search for the students, following leads in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and declared them endangered on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Members of the HCSO SWAT team responded to the domestic violence incident involving Abugharbieh at the Pine Glen Circle home on Friday just after 9 a.m.<\/p>\n
He barricaded himself inside the home, and after a brief standoff with deputies, he was taken into custody around 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
At the same time, detectives were following investigative leads in the area of the bridge, where Limon\u2019s remains were found. <\/p>\n
His cause of death will be determined by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n
Anyone with information about Bristy\u2019s disappearance is asked to contact HCSO at 813-247-8200. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,\u201d Sheriff Chad Chronister said. \u201cWhile the discovery of Zamil Limon\u2019s remains is heartbreaking, I want the public to know that our detectives worked and are working tirelessly and relentlessly to uncover the truth. We will continue to follow every fact, pursue every lead, and use every tool available to hold those responsible fully accountable. Our thoughts remain with the families of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Limon and Bristy, who are both from Bangladesh, had previously dated, Bristy\u2019s older brother, Zahaid Hasan Pranto, speaking from Bangladesh, told NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my sister\u2019s friends, I came to know like she was still emotionally engaged,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Limon\u2019s younger brother, Zubaer Ahmed, also speaking from Bangladesh, told the news outlet that the couple were \u201cclose friends\u201d who were still talking about potentially getting married in the future.<\/p>\n They had been \u201cthinking about having [a] future together,\u201d but both were currently dedicated to their studies, he said.<\/p>\n Ahmed told Fox news<\/a> that his brother \u201cis a very responsible person, and that\u2019s why the situation is so unpredictable and unusual to us \u2026 like, and very suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n The family is \u201cin deep pain and [it\u2019s a devastating situation,\u201d the brother added.<\/p>\n Limon, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen on April 16 around 9 a.m. at Avalon Heights, an off-campus apartment complex not far from campus, USF police said in a news release.<\/p>\n He was scheduled to present his thesis on the use of AI in environmental science this week, CBS News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bristy, who is studying chemical engineering, was last seen on April 16 around 10 a.m. at the NES building on USF\u2019s Tampa campus at 121 USF Sweetgum Lane.<\/p>\n A family friend told police they were missing on April 17, just before 5 p.m., after being unable to contact either of them <\/p>\n The Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s Office documented and processed Limon\u2019s missing person\u2019s report, while USF police handled the missing person\u2019s report for Bristy.<\/p>\n Their lack of communication is unlike them, Md Rakibuzzaman, a friend of Limon and a graduate student at the University of Georgia, told WFLA<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel normal,\u201d he said, \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty complex puzzle to me. Like I said, he is a very decent person, but what\u2019s going on in his personal life\u2026I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Authorities said there are no signs of foul play, reports said.<\/p>\n Larry McKinnon, a spokesperson for USF police, told the USF Oracle<\/a> that the department believes the two disappearances are related.<\/p>\n Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Limon or Bristy are asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s Office at 813-247-8200.<\/p>\n