A missing University of South Florida doctoral student was found dead on a Tampa Bay bridge Friday and his roommate was arrested as a suspect, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Two Bangladeshi doctorates, Jamil Limon and Nahida Bristi, have been missing since last week. But Lyman’s body was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday, and Brusty still hasn’t been found, the sheriff’s office said.
“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and affected many who are hoping for a safe resolution,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement.
Liman’s roommate, Hisham Abugarbeeh, was arrested Friday morning after law enforcement was called to his home for a domestic violence incident, according to Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer.
Abu Garbih, a 26-year-old former USF student, now faces charges of battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death and unlawful removal of a body, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Limon and Bristy, both 27, were reported missing on April 17 by a family friend. They were spotted around the university campus in recent days, according to university police.
A medical examiner is still determining Lyman’s cause of death and could share autopsy results over the weekend, Maurer said.
Liman’s family told CNN they were desperate for answers about what happened to the happy, promising young researcher.
As the search and investigation for Bristy continues, university president Moez Limayem said his staff will be in contact with the student’s loved ones to offer support.
“Please join me in praying for Jameel’s family and friends and Nahida’s safe return,” Limayam said in a message to faculty and students.
The roommate was on investigators’ radar
Prior to his arrest Friday, Abu Gharbeeh had been interviewed by law enforcement at least twice. He was initially talking to authorities but stopped cooperating when he was questioned again Thursday, Maurer said.
As of Friday, the chief deputy said investigators “were able to link the suspect to this case and (Lemon’s) body.”
During his arrest, Abugarbih barricaded himself inside a home, requiring a SWAT team and crisis negotiators to respond, the sheriff’s office said. Video of his arrest shows an armored vehicle parked in the front yard as Abugarbih walks out the front door with his arms up and a bath towel tied around his waist.
Abu Gharbih was arrested at his family home, where a judge had previously denied entry because of domestic violence charges filed by his brother.
The suspect was arrested twice in 2023 on battery charges, which were later dropped, according to court records. But after one of those incidents, her brother filed for an injunction that prohibited Abu Gharbih from coming near her home. In court filings, the brother alleged that Abugarbeeh assaulted him and his mother during an argument in which the brother was telling him to leave the house.
When the injunction expired last May, Bhai asked the court to extend it, saying, “He doesn’t want to run the risk of it coming back.” His request was denied.
Hisham Abugharbih, 26, was arrested Friday in connection with the death of his roommate, Jameel Limon, authorities announced. – Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
The suspect attended USF between 2021 and 2023 and earned a bachelor’s degree in management, a university spokesperson told CNN.
The student’s brother says, ‘We are fainting
The students had been missing since last week, prompting friends in Florida and relatives in Bangladesh to search for answers.
Before Lyman’s body was found, his brother told CNN that the family was waiting for news in “deep anguish.”
“It’s devastating for us,” Zubair Ahmed said. The brother said his family is anxiously following updates. “We’re freaking out. Anything is possible. We just want to know the truth or what happened to them. It’s not possible that two students disappeared out of nowhere.”
Jamil Liman planned to return to Bangladesh this summer to visit his family, his brother said. – Family of Zamil Limon
Liman was last seen outside his home about three blocks from the university campus on April 16 at 9 a.m., police said. He has been pursuing a master’s degree in geography, environmental science and policy since fall 2024.
Bristy was last seen an hour later at the campus’ Natural and Environmental Sciences building, police said. She joined the university last fall and was studying chemical engineering.
The next day, a family friend was unable to reach the couple and campus police were notified.
Detectives were following leads and searching multiple locations as the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office upgraded the couple’s status to “in danger” Thursday, citing new “information coming to light.”
Liman was rumored to marry Bristi
Liman had talked a lot about Bristi to his family in Bangladesh, telling them he was getting married and the pair had discussed the possibility of marriage, his brother said.
“He shared that she is a good girl, and she has a lot of talent, like she can sing and cook well,” said Ahmed, the brother.
Limon had been working hard on his thesis for the past two years, studying how to use generative AI to monitor irrigated wetlands in South Florida, his brother said.
“My brother is a very civilized and very simple person,” Ahmed said. “He always had a smile on his face.”
After completing his PhD, Liman wanted to return to Bangladesh and get a job as a university professor, Ahmed said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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