The body of a Bangladeshi doctor’s student who went missing from the University of South Florida with his girlfriend has been found on a Tampa Bay bridge, and his roommate has been taken into custody, law enforcement officials said Friday.
Jamil Limon’s remains were found Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge, but Nahida Bristi is still missing, Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said.
Liman’s roommate Hisham Saleh Abugarbeh, 26, was taken into custody from his family’s home nearby on preliminary charges including unlawful removal of a corpse, tampering with evidence by failing to report a death, false imprisonment and battery. He was expected to make his first court appearance Saturday morning.
“We are still actively searching for Nahida,” Maurer said, appealing to the public to share any helpful information. Law enforcement dive teams were searching the creek near the bridge as part of those efforts, the sheriff’s office said.
Officers encountered Abugarbeh while responding to a report of domestic violence at his family’s home north of campus and were able to move his relatives to safety. But then he locked himself inside and refused to come out. A SWAT team responded — including drones, a robot and crisis negotiators — before Abugarbeh walked out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel.
“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and affected many who hoped for a safe resolution,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The discovery of Jamil Limon’s remains is heartbreaking, I want the public to know that our detectives worked and are working tirelessly and tirelessly to uncover the truth.”
Both Liman and Bristy, 27, were considering getting married, a relative said. They went missing from the campus on April 16. Limon was last seen at his home in an off-campus apartment complex where he lived with Abugarbeh. Bristy, who lives on campus, was last seen an hour later in the campus science building.
A family friend was unable to contact authorities last Friday, USF police said.
Investigators spoke with Abugarbeh, a native-born U.S. citizen, on Thursday, Maurer said, but after the initial conversation, Abugarbeh chose to end the interview. He said Abugarbeh was speaking with detectives again after his arrest Friday morning.
There are no other suspects in the investigation at this time, Maurer said.
An autopsy is being performed to determine the manner and cause of Liman’s death, and those results are expected Saturday morning, he said.
Abugarbeh was a USF student but was not currently enrolled. University records show he attended the school from spring 2021 to spring 2023 and earned a BS in management, a university spokeswoman said.
Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy was studying chemical engineering.
Abugarbeh had several prior arrests, the sheriff’s office said. He was charged in September 2023 with battery and burglary of an unoccupied house, and that May with battery — both classified as misdemeanors in court records. Court records show Abugarbeh entered a diversion program for first-time misdemeanor offenders. He completed the program in 2024 and the charges were discontinued. A phone call to his attorney in that case was not immediately returned.
Hillsborough County court records also show two domestic violence petitions filed by family members in 2023. A judge granted an injunction in one case and denied another petition. He was also accused of violating traffic rules.
_____ This story has been updated to correct that Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer spoke Friday morning, not the sheriff.
___ Lauer reported from Philadelphia and Boone reported from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporter Michael Snyder in Orlando, Florida contributed.
