Roommate arrested after body found in search for two missing USF doctoral students

A suspect has been arrested after a body was found in the search for two University of South Florida doctoral students who vanished a week ago.

Zamil Limon’s remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge Friday but the search continues for Nahida Bristy.

The couple from Bangladesh was reported missing on April 17.

Limon, who was studying geography, environmental science and policy at the school in Tampa, Florida, was last seen at his home in a student apartment complex. Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen an hour later at a campus science building.

A family friend contacted authorities last Friday after being unable to contact either one, USF police said. Friends and family described their lack of communication as out of character.

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During the search for the missing couple, investigators identified a suspect in the case, Limon’s roommate Hisham Saleh Abugharbeih.

Officers responded to a report of domestic violence at a home about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from campus Friday and were able to safely remove the suspect’s family. The suspect then barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.

A SWAT team responded and the suspect eventually came out peacefully. He was initially communicating with authorities but stopped talking.

He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death and improper removal of a human body.

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An autopsy will determine Limon’s cause of death, and investigators haven’t yet identified a motive for Abugharbeih’s alleged crimes, officials said.

Deputies are still searching for Bristy and urged the public to contact police if they’ve seen or heard from her. A sheriff’s spokesperson said they have no indication as to whether she has been harmed.