USF Student's Body Found Off Howard Frankland Bridge; Roommate Charged

Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies discovered Zamil Limon's body Friday morning near the Howard Frankland Bridge, a vital I-275 span connecting Tampa in Hillsborough County to St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. The 27-year-old USF student had been reported missing after a domestic violence call at 9 a.m. Friday in Tampa's Lake Forest subdivision, north of the university's main campus.[1][6] Limon's roommate, Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, a former USF student, was arrested at the scene and charged with domestic violence-simple battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully holding or moving a human body.[1][6] Abugharbieh, who investigators believe acted alone, has prior convictions including burglary and battery in 2023, and domestic violence in 2023 and 2025, according to jail records.[1] Hillsborough Sheriff's Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer stated detectives responded to the Lake Forest home where the incident unfolded, leading to the bridge discovery.[1][6] Late Friday, marine and dive teams scoured waters near the bridge for Nahida Bristy, Limon's other roommate, who vanished in connection with the case; she remains at large as of Sunday.[1][3] Additional human remains were recovered Sunday afternoon from waterways near I-275 and Fourth Street North, just south of the Howard Frankland Bridge in Pinellas County, by joint Hillsborough and Pinellas teams.[2][4][5] The Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating those unidentified remains, separate from Limon's case.[5] An autopsy on Limon, expected by Saturday, will determine cause and manner of death; motive remains unknown.[1] The Howard Frankland Bridge, a heavily trafficked artery for Bay area commuters, drew intense scrutiny with lane closures during the search.[1] Hillsborough Sheriff's Office urges tips on Bristy's whereabouts to 813-247-8200.[1][3]