A Florida sheriff has provided a gruesome update in the case of two missing University of South Florida doctoral students. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister confirmed Friday that human remains found near a Tampa Bay area bridge on Sunday belong to Nahida Bristy, 27.
Bristy and her boyfriend, fellow doctoral student Zamil Limon, also 27, were last seen on April 16 in Tampa. Limon's body was discovered April 24 on the Howard Frankland Bridge. His roommate, Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, was arrested that same day and has been jailed since then on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon.
Discovery of Remains
Another black trash bag was spotted nearby two days later. The bag was tied in a knot, similar to the one containing Limon's body. Two kayakers fishing in the area found Bristy's remains when one of their fishing lines snagged on the bag, which they described as having an 'indescribable' smell.
'When he (the kayaker) went and got closer to remove his fishing line, he sees that a plastic bag has been opened,' Chronister said. 'There's been saltwater in there [and] he can't tell what it is, but it looks like a human body.'
Identification and Family Notification
Chronister said Bristy's family has been contacted and arrangements would be made to return her remains to them. 'We are now actively working to release both bodies for religious reasons back to the families who live in Bangladesh,' Chronister said at the press conference. Limon and Bristy were Muslim, according to the University of South Florida's Muslim Student Association.
Chronister said Bristy's remains were identified using DNA technology. 'We were able to confirm DNA, some dental work that she had done and the clothing that she still had on from the video that we saw,' he said. He expressed hope that family members would 'get some semblance of comfort and peace now knowing what happened ... and that they are returning home to be buried by their loved ones.'
Investigation Details
Before Bristy's remains were identified, investigators noted that the body in the bag was in an 'advanced stage of decomposition,' according to an arrest affidavit cited by CNN. The body wore 'similar clothing based on the unique style that Nahida Bristy was last seen on video surveillance,' the affidavit said.
Investigators had called Bristy's family in Bangladesh last Friday to say they believed she was dead, WTSP reported. Bristy's brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, said law enforcement came to this conclusion due to 'the volume of blood' found at the shared apartment. Pranto said the missing pair had been in a romantic relationship but were not dating when they disappeared.
Suspect's Actions
The university confirmed that Abugharbieh was enrolled at USF from spring 2021 through spring 2023 and was not an active student. According to court documents cited by NBC News, Abugharbieh had given Limon and Bristy a ride from Tampa to Clearwater on the last day they were seen alive. He initially denied having them in his car but admitted after being shown data that Limon's phone had been in Clearwater.
Abugharbieh bought trash bags, Lysol wipes, and Febreze air freshener that same night, according to investigators. Location data showed he drove to the Howard Frankland Bridge the next day and stopped along the bridge. His roommate told investigators he saw him moving cardboard boxes to a dumpster at their apartment complex.
DNA testing on a kitchen mat matched Bristy's, and items belonging to Limon's student ID and credit cards were found in the dumpster. Abugharbieh had also allegedly asked ChatGPT on April 13: 'What happens if a human is put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster?'
Arrest and Charges
Abugharbieh was arrested April 24 at a home in Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He barricaded himself inside, prompting specialized units, including SWAT, to be deployed. He was taken into custody, with video showing him stumbling out with his hands up, wearing only a blue towel.
He was charged with unlawfully holding or moving a dead body, failure to report a death to authorities, evidence tampering, false imprisonment, and battery. Abugharbieh was denied bond on Tuesday morning, though he did not appear physically in court, according to NBC Miami. Jennifer Spradley, an attorney in the Hillsborough County public defender's office, told the outlet on Monday that her office would not comment on the case. He is currently held at the Falkenburg Road Jail in Tampa.
