Honoring Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon

Dear USF community,

As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of our students Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, I want to share several updates with you, including plans to honor Nahida and Zamil with the dignity and compassion they deserve.

As I reflect on this unimaginable situation, I find myself thinking not only as a university president, but as a parent and as someone who once came to this country as an international student. I remember what it meant for my own family to have me far from home, and how even small moments of silence could bring worry. I cannot begin to comprehend the pain that Nahida’s and Zamil’s families are enduring, but I want them – and all of you – to know that we are holding them close in our thoughts, and that their grief is shared across this university.

Our students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to come together for anon-campus vigil scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at Crescent Hill, located north of the Marshall Student Center. I hope you will join us as we reflect on the lives and positive impact of Nahida and Zamil.

On Thursday and Friday, USF Athletics will hold a moment of silence for Nahida and Zamil and a tribute will appear on the video boards before our home softball and baseball games. We are also planning a remembrance during next week’s commencement ceremonies. In addition, Nahida and Zamil will be added to the memorial located on campus for students who pass away, and they will be recognized during a special memorial ceremony that is held each year.

For anyone interested in supporting Nahida’s and Zamil’s families, a fund has been established privately, and information can be found here. USF remains in contact with those who were closest to Nahida and Zamil, and we continue to work with representatives from the Bangladeshi Embassy and Consulate General to assist their families during this very difficult time.

The latest information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is available here. We will continue to monitor and share updates as appropriate. Investigators say there is no ongoing threat to the safety of the university community.

We are actively working with law enforcement as they investigate. I want to assure you that the university is reviewing all factors involved, including conditions and safety measures that are in place at off-campus housing facilities. While USF does not own, operate or manage off-campus apartments, we recognize the importance of the safety and well-being of our students wherever they live. Our goal is to ensure that students have sufficient information that provides clarity and transparency regarding safety considerations to help prevent such tragedies in the future.

Our university leadership team, trained professionals and I have been touring the campus this week and talking to students, faculty and staff to ensure members of our community receive assistance. For those who need support, students have access to TimelyCare 24/7 as well as in-person counseling services on campus. Faculty and staff can access the Employee Assistance Program.

Please join me in keeping Nahida’s and Zamil’s families, friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Moez Limayem, PhD
President
University of South Florida

⚠️ AFFIDAVIT DETAIL: Body Believed to Be Nahida Bristy Discovered in Previously Searched Area — Clothing Matched Descriptions, But a Second Item Found Separated by Approximately 11 Feet

Newly released court documents and affidavits have provided grim additional details in the case of 27-year-old Nahida Sultana Bristy, the University of South Florida (USF) doctoral student missing since April 16, 2026. Detectives confirm that human remains believed to be those of Bristy were recovered on April 26 in waterways south of the Howard Frankland Bridge in Pinellas County — an area that had already been searched in the days prior. While the clothing on the body closely matched witness descriptions of what Bristy was last seen wearing when she left her office building on the USF Tampa campus, investigators noted a second item of clothing found separated by approximately 11 feet from the main remains.

This discovery comes as authorities continue processing evidence in the double homicide investigation involving Bristy and fellow USF doctoral student Zamil Limon, also 27. Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, Limon’s roommate, has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of both students.

The Recovery and Affidavit Revelations

According to affidavits filed in the case, the remains were located near the Interstate 275 and 4th Street North area on the St. Petersburg side of the Howard Frankland Bridge — the same general vicinity where Limon’s body was recovered earlier on April 24. The body was found in clothing consistent with Bristy’s last known attire, providing strong initial indication of her identity, though formal confirmation by the medical examiner through DNA or other forensic means was still pending as of late April 2026.

The detail about the second item of clothing found roughly 11 feet away has drawn particular attention from investigators. In water recovery cases, separation of items can result from currents, tidal action, marine life, or the manner in which remains were disposed of and entered the water. Prosecutors have alleged that Bristy was “disposed of in a similar way” to Limon, whose remains were also found in the bridge area, reportedly inside or near a black garbage bag with signs of violent trauma.

The fact that the body was located in a zone previously searched highlights the challenges of large-scale aquatic and shoreline searches in Tampa Bay, where visibility, depth, and environmental factors can complicate efforts. The expanded overnight searches covering more than six square miles around the USF campus and adjacent waterways ultimately yielded this critical recovery.

Suggested image placement: An illustrative map of the Tampa Bay area focusing on the Howard Frankland Bridge, with overlays marking the recovery sites for both Limon (April 24) and the remains believed to be Bristy (April 26). Include a subtle red zone indicating the previously searched area and the expanded search radius.

Connection to the Suspect and Digital Evidence

Abugharbieh faces serious charges, with court documents citing blood evidence in the shared apartment, Bristy’s personal items (including her USF ID and credit cards) found in Limon’s bedroom, and cellphone location data plus license plate readers linking the suspect’s movements to the bridge area. Reports have also referenced Abugharbieh allegedly querying an AI tool (such as ChatGPT) about body disposal methods, adding to the prosecution’s narrative of premeditation.

Bristy and Limon were last seen on April 16. Bristy was captured on surveillance video leaving her office building that day. Her personal belongings and bloodstained clothing associated with her last known outfit were later recovered during the investigation of the apartment.

The 11-foot separation of the additional clothing item may assist forensic experts in reconstructing the sequence of disposal, water movement, or post-incident activity. Such details often become significant in establishing the mechanism of death and supporting charges of premeditated murder.

Suggested image: Respectful side-by-side or individual portrait-style illustrations based on official missing person flyers of Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, emphasizing their identities as promising 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh rather than solely as victims. Pair with a generic, sensitive rendering of law enforcement dive or recovery operations along a bridge/waterway at dawn or dusk.

Broader Context: A Shocking Loss for the USF Community

Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon were both international doctoral students pursuing advanced degrees at USF. Their disappearances sent shockwaves through the university’s graduate community, particularly among Bangladeshi and international students. USF has provided counseling resources and statements of support for affected families and the campus at large.

The brother of Bristy reportedly told media that investigators had informed the family in Bangladesh of their belief that she was deceased, citing the volume of blood evidence found at the apartment. However, as of the latest public updates, authorities continued treating the case with active search elements until the remains could be positively identified.

The discovery in a previously searched area underscores both the persistence of law enforcement and the difficulties inherent in recovering evidence in a dynamic aquatic environment like Tampa Bay. The additional clothing item separated by 11 feet adds a layer of forensic complexity that detectives are now analyzing alongside tide charts, currents, and any other physical evidence.

Legal Proceedings and Next Steps

Abugharbieh has been ordered held without bond. The charges against him include first-degree murder with a weapon (premeditated) for both victims. Prosecutors are building a case supported by digital forensics, physical evidence from the apartment, and location data.

For the families in Bangladesh, the developments bring a measure of closure regarding location while deepening the grief over the loss of two talented young scholars who were reportedly close and considering marriage. The USF community continues to mourn, with many expressing disbelief that such violence could touch their academic circle.

As forensic analysis of the recovered remains and the separated clothing continues, along with processing of the previously recovered phone and other digital evidence, authorities expect further details to emerge in upcoming court filings. The 11-foot separation detail, while seemingly minor, could prove instrumental in tying the disposal method directly to the suspect or in refuting potential defense arguments.

This case serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities within even close-knit student living situations and the importance of rapid, coordinated responses in missing persons investigations involving multiple jurisdictions (Hillsborough and Pinellas counties).