Authorities Confirm Remains Found Near Tampa Belong to Missing Student
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Hillsborough County authorities confirmed on Friday that human remains discovered in the Tampa Bay area belong to Nahida Bristy, a doctoral student at the University of South Florida (USF) who had been reported missing. Sheriff Chad Chronister made the announcement during a press conference update, stating that the remains were found as part of the ongoing investigation. Bristy, 27, went missing on April 16 along with her partner, Zamil Limon. Days later, Limon's body was discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge, while authorities continued searching for Bristy. The case took a turn with the arrest of Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon's former roommate, who faces multiple charges, including evidence tampering and concealing a body. Sheriff Chronister noted that the discovery of Bristy's remains marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation. The case has deeply impacted the Tampa Bay community and the University of South Florida, where both students were pursuing doctoral programs.