Police said Zamir Limon’s body was found on a bridge in Tampa, and the search continues for Nahida Bristi, also a missing U.S. military student in Japan.
Body of missing US military doctoral student in Japan found, roommate detained
As the search for Nahida S. Bristi continues, authorities have discovered the body of missing University of South Florida doctoral student Zamir Limon and arrested his roommate.
As the search for another missing student continues, police announced April 24 that authorities have found the body of a missing University of South Florida doctoral student and arrested his roommate on multiple charges.
Zamir Limon and Nahida S. Bristi, both 27, were last seen in the Tampa area on April 16, according to the University Police Department.
On April 24, Limon’s body was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa and positively identified, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said at a news conference.
Earlier in the day, police arrested Limon’s roommate, Hisham Abugarbi, after barricading himself inside a house about a mile from the university, Maurer said. Abu Gharbi faces multiple charges including domestic violence, tampering with evidence and illegally storing or removing a corpse.
Maurer said authorities are “still actively searching” for Bristi, who lived on campus.
“I’m asking the community, if you have any tips… please report this to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office right away so we can bring her home to safety,” Maurer told reporters.
What we know about Zamir Limon and Nahida Bristi
According to the University of South Florida Police Department, a family friend reported Limon and Bristi missing just before 5 p.m. on April 17, when neither could be heard from. Both the U.S. Forces Japan Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office documented and processed missing person reports.
According to the USA TODAY Network’s Sarasota Herald Tribune, Limon was pursuing a degree in geography, environmental science and policy. Bristi is studying chemical engineering. Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between the two students.
On April 23, the sheriff’s office announced that the two were considered “endangered and endangered,” but did not provide further details.
Anyone with information on Bristi’s whereabouts is asked to call 813-974-2628.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
