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Barricaded suspect in custody, body found after two doctoral students vanish from campus, nearby home: police
By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten
Published April 24, 2026
One person is in custody in connection to two missing University of South Florida doctoral students, authorities said Friday.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said it closed down a Tampa neighborhood Friday afternoon and took into custody a barricaded person linked to the disappearance of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, who were last seen separately on April 16.
"We are here today as our community has been shaken by the disappearance of two USF grad students. Nahida and Zamil," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Friday. "I am heartbroken to announce the discovery of human remains discovered on the Howard Franklin Bridge earlier this morning. Just now, those remains were positively identified to Zamil."
Zamil Limon, a USF doctoral student pursuing a degree in geography and environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home around 9 a.m. on April 16. (University of South Florida Police Department)
At about 9 a.m., deputies responded to a domestic violence call at the suspect’s home and removed family members from the residence safely.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said that deputies repeatedly ordered the suspect to come out, but he refused for about 20 minutes. SWAT was activated and arrived at about 10:36 a.m., he said.
After SWAT ordered him to leave the residence, the suspect surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody.
The suspect, identified as Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, faces charges including domestic violence, simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawful removal or concealment of a dead human body.
Chronister said that the suspect was Limon's roommate, and he was taken into custody at their shared home.
Nahida Bristy, a USF doctoral student studying chemical engineering, was last seen around 10 a.m. on April 16 on the USF Tampa campus at the NES Building. (University of South Florida Police Department)
At about 11:15 a.m. Friday, the sheriff's department said that it had closed the entrance and exit of the Lake Forest Community "due to a police investigation related to the missing USF students."
"The situation has been resolved. One individual is in custody," they said.
Limon, a USF doctoral student pursuing a degree in geography and environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home around 9 a.m. on April 16.
Bristy, a USF doctoral student studying chemical engineering, was last seen around 10 that morning on the USF Tampa campus at the NES Building.
Authorities said human remains located on Friday under the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, Florida, were identified as those of missing Zamil Limon, who along with his friend, Nahida Bristy, disappeared on April 16. (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office)
A family friend notified police on April 17 at approximately 4:50 p.m. after concern grew over being unable to contact Limon and Bristy.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/barricaded-suspect-custody-body-found-after-two-doctoral-students-vanish-from-campus-nearby-home-police