Human Remains Found in Search for Missing USF Doctoral Student
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Authorities in Tampa reported Sunday that human remains were recovered in Pinellas County during the search for University of South Florida doctoral student Nahida Bristy, who has been missing. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office stated that the remains were found in waterways near Interstate 275 and Fourth Street North. Identification of the remains is pending by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office. Bristy was last seen on the morning of April 16 but was not reported missing until April 21 when a family friend said they were unable to reach her, according to officials. She was reported missing alongside another USF graduate student, Zamil Limon. Limon's body was discovered Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, the sheriff's office announced at a press conference, while the search for Bristy continued. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death. Both Bristy and Limon, 27, were doctoral students at the university and originally from Bangladesh. Their roommate, identified as 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, was arrested Friday after police responded to a domestic violence call at a residence linked to him. He has been charged in connection with the murders. Abugharbieh faces charges including premeditated murder with a weapon, tampering with or moving a corpse, failing to report a death to a medical examiner or authorities with intent to conceal it, and tampering with physical evidence, according to a statement posted Saturday on the sheriff's office Facebook page. The university confirmed that Abugharbieh was not currently enrolled but had studied there from spring 2021 to spring 2023. Records obtained by NBC News show that Abugharbieh had been previously arrested in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office stated that the investigation remains active.