FL FL - Zamil Limon, 27, Nahida S. Bristy, 27, USF doctoral students, 16 Apr 2026 *Arrest*

[PatLaurel]

It might just be me, but it now appears that the Motion for Pretrial Detention is no longer available. If any one knows another way I might be able to access it, please let me know and TIA.

I just checked and it's still there.

 

[factseeking]

I just read an article from WFLA detailing the timeline that has lots of info. Not sure if this has been provided yet, but I will link the story below just in case:

Timeline

Oh thanks! It was just updated in the last hour!

 

[factseeking]

Ok wow that WFLA article has a lot of detail probably part of what was in the Motion which for some reason I couldn't find in the database.

it looks like he planned the murder(s) in advance as opposed to being in an uncontrollable sudden rage. Even though it was planned he still made mistakes that anyone who's watched L&O or Dateline or any crime show wouldn't make.

He didn't realize the phones could be tracked, he didn't realize even if you've cleaned up blood luminol (I'm assuming that's what they used) will show exactly where the blood was. He threw incriminating things away in the dumpster/compactor at the apartment complex. All on top of not knowing you internet search history is out there forever.

I still can't get the reason for his trip to Sand Key through my thick skull. I'll look back I think someone told me why he went there not sure.

The poor third roommate. I don't know how he wasn't scared out of his mind in that apartment after the murders.

I'm glad they seem to have a lot of evidence. If they can't find Bristy soon I hope they convince him to tell them where she is. They could take the death penalty off the table in return for that info and let him spend the rest of his life in jail.

 

[realanastasia]

The motion for pretrial detention is attached as downloaded from the court’s website.
Zamil’s COD was multiple sharp force injuries (stabbed), and there’s no clear indication of what happened to Naheda but it seems likely she met the same fate. ZL’s clothing was retrieved from a dumpster (his body was unclothed when located) but, other than her shoes and maybe socks, NB’s were not.
I am grateful that the perp was both stupid and careless in committing this crime—the motion is packed with physical and digital evidence that makes it impossible (IMO) to entertain any doubt that HA callously and calculatedly carried out these murders.

 

[factseeking]

The motion for pretrial detention is attached as downloaded from the court’s website.
Zamil’s COD was multiple sharp force injuries (stabbed), and there’s no clear indication of what happened to Naheda but it seems likely she met the same fate. ZL’s clothing was retrieved from a dumpster (his body was unclothed when located) but, other than her shoes and maybe socks, NB’s were not.
I am grateful that the perp was both stupid and careless in committing this crime—the motion is packed with physical and digital evidence that makes it impossible (IMO) to entertain any doubt that HA callously and calculatedly carried out these murders.

Thank you for posting this. I'm also grateful he had no idea how to evade LE and so now they have a ton of evidence. I just really want to know why.

 

[Sleuthster]

Usf posted a statement

 

[factseeking]

The CBS local affiliate channel 10 led the 11:00 news tonight with the recovery of a body from the water close to where ZL was recovered. I think Sleuther mentioned this earlier today. There’s no announcement yet on ID but they (CBS) clearly think it’s NB. Hopefully we’ll know in the morning.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Human remains found in search for missing University of South Florida doctoral student

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, has been charged with the murders of Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, whose body was found Friday.

www.cbsnews.com

Human remains have been found in the waterways in Tampa Bay, where authorities have been searching for the body of missing University of Florida doctoral student Nahida Bristy, Florida deputies announced late Sunday, as new court documents allege the suspect in the killing of Bristy and another student appeared to ask ChatGPT how to dispose of a body.

The remains were found in Pinellas County, and have not yet been identified. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the remains were found "in the area of Interstate 275 and 4th Street North," which is around the St. Petersburg side of the Howard Frankland Bridge.

*****

There is also an article in Tampa Bay Times, but it is behind a paywall:

Human remains discovered near where divers searched for missing USF student

Investigators for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the lead agency on the case, were at the scene.

www.tampabay.com

 

[ChatteringBirds]

View attachment 662322
This makes me wonder if the 3rd roommate was going to be his next victim...

He is really not very bright and he's very cruel.
I hope the murderer of Zamil and Bristy will receive life in prison without parole.

 

[SeesSeas]

Authorities say human remains recovered in Pinellas waterway

Authorities have been searching for the other missing student, Nahida Bristy.

baynews9.com

Authorities say human remains recovered in Pinellas waterway​

UPDATED 5:06 AM ET Apr. 27, 2026
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Human remains have been recovered from water near I-275 and 4th Street North in St. Petersburg, according to information released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on Sunday night.
[...]
The body found on Sunday is currently with the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office.

 

[factseeking]

I hope they announce something soon today.

One thing I'm starting to think about is the evidence seems overwhelming which might mean there will be no trial like in the Kohberger case just a plea deal down from the death penalty to life imprisonment. As we all remember with Kohberger he had to admit that he did it but he was not required to admit a motive. I'm not saying the family should have to go through the torture of a trial but I hope if they allow him to plea, part of that is he has to talk about a motive.

 

[SeesSeas]

Human Remains Recovered In Pinellas County | HCSO, Tampa, FL

HCSO Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chad Chronister, Tampa, FL

www.teamhcso.com

Human Remains Recovered In Pinellas County​

For Immediate Release : Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

---

April 26, 2026 Public Affairs Office | [email protected] (813) 247-8060

Release Number: 26-78

Date Sunday April 26, 2026 8:43 PM

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, has recovered human remains from the waterways in the area of Interstate 275 and 4th Street North.

Positive identification of the remains has not been determined at this time, as the body is in the possession of the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office.

This is an active investigation, and updates will be provided by the Public Affairs Office.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Court records claim Abugharbieh purchased items later used in the attack and link his vehicle’s driving data to cell phone pings from Limon’s device. Surveillance footage, cell phone records, and physical evidence allegedly place Abugharbieh at key locations tied to the victims’ last known movements. Prosecutors also say he gave false statements to police, attempted to clean the crime scene, and disposed of evidence.

The medical examiner found Limon had multiple lacerations and stab wounds, and his remains were in an advanced stage of decomposition. His death was ruled a homicide.

Prosecutors argue no conditions of release can ensure public safety or guarantee Abugharbieh’s appearance in court. A judge will decide whether he will remain in jail until trial, where he faces the possibility of a capital sentence if convicted.

Amid a search for a missing USF student, human remains were found near the Florida bridge where a fellow missing student's body was located last week.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048734158151712909

Human remains were recovered in Tampa, Florida as officials look for missing University of South Florida doctoral student Nahida Bristy, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The remains were found on the night of Sunday, April 26, in waterways near an interstate and were taken to the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office for identification.

Bristy, 27, is still missing, but is presumed dead after the remains of Zamil Limon, 27, another doctoral student at USF, were found in trash bags on a bridge in Tampa, according to court records. His roommate, Hisham Abugharbieh, has been arrested and charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a weapon, according to the sheriff's office.

Human remains found as search for 2nd missing USF student continues

Authorities believe the missing student, Nahida Bristy, is deceased after remains of another student, Zamil Limon, were found on a Florida bridge.

www.usatoday.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Court documents filed over the weekend state that Hisham Abugharbieh, who is facing two counts of first degree murder, asked ChatGPT a number of violent questions in the days before the two students went missing.

The questions included: ‘What happens if a human is put in a garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster?’ And 'Can a VIN number on a car be changed?’

Both Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, who are dating according to court documents, were last seen on April 16. Limon’s remains were discovered early Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Phone records show that Abugharbieh was on the Howard Frankland bridge early Friday morning and stopped his car for a short period of time, court documents show.

Shortly after their disappearance, Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT additional questions including ‘Has there been someone who survived a sniper bullet to the head’ and ‘Is there a water temperature that burns immediately’.

On April 23, Abugharbieh asked ‘What does missing endangered adult mean’.

Investigators also searched the dumpster and trash compactor at the apartment building that Abugharbieh and Limon shared. There, they located credit cards from Limon’s wallet and a bloodied kitchen mat.

Court documents: Items from missing USF students found in suspect’s dumpster

Credit cards with Zamil Limon's name, a bloody floor mat, and bloody clothes were located in a trash compactor by the suspect's apartment.

baynews9.com

 

[MollyHarps]

Ive just been catching up how very sad. Two beautiful humans taken from this world.

I do wonder if Chat GPT (and others like it) should be able to flag to law enforcement some of these searches especially when the internet search happens nearby the location of a missing persons case.

It never fails to amaze me how many murderers use the internet soon after murdering somebody - do they not realise that becomes very incriminating evidence?

 

[Lebowski]

my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims. this is a senseless, horrific crime.

spoiler tagging my thoughts that family and friends may not want to read

Spoiler: respect for family and friends

...

Water just seems like the easiest way to disappear a body and assuming he acted alone, I think moving bodies is not easy. Simplest/easiest explanation is in the water together, but I suppose one may make the effort in separating them.

...

sbm, bbm

also, the water in florida has alligators. perp may have been hoping they would dispose of the evidence

........

as to motive, my gut tells me it was about SA, and NB was the target. we'll see what the evidence shows. i suspect ZL's murder was part of that plan. the idea that HA somehow used ZL to lure NB makes sense to me. he's their point of connection. why else would she go talk to him? under this scenario, the purpose of murdering ZL was either because ZL found out what he was planning and tried to stop him, or to keep ZL from contradicting whatever HA was going to say to lure her.

learning that she received a call from HA and then went outside, never returning, makes me think the fact that she left her laptop there may not reflect a sense of urgency, but rather an expectation that she would be returning momentarily.

what did HA say to her? i suspect nothing threatening or dire, otherwise one would think she would call 911 and/or show some sign of alarm as she was stepping outside, which witnesses might have remembered. it might have been something like "ZL's phone is dead, but he asked me to bring you this lunch". then he could have pulled a weapon when she got outside.

perp sounds really dumb. reminds me of the guy who ordered a sawz-all and plastic sheeting through doordash and googled how to get an alias. or the guy who googled how to dismember a body.

seeing the suspect's and victims' CV's, i wonder if there's also some bruised ego silliness going on here, similar to the brown university shooter. seeing ZL living the life he thought he was supposed to have may have made any infatuation with NB worse and made it about pride too. though of course the brown u shooter was actually really smart, unlike this guy.

all JMO

 

[PayrollNerd]

As a USF parent, I received another email update. I truly hope the students, staff and faculty can get the support they need and make it thru the end of the semester in peace.

Dear USF alumni and parents: The last few days have tested our USF community in ways none of us ever want to experience. We are grieving the tragic loss of two of our students in a crime that has shaken us all. Our hearts are with the families, friends and loved ones of Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon. Nahida began her studies in chemical engineering in fall 2025, and Zamil joined us in fall 2024 studying geography and environmental science and policy. They were valued members of our community, and their loss is deeply felt across our university. As a university president, I feel a profound responsibility for the safety and well-being of our students. But I want to speak to you also as a parent, and as someone who once was an international student far from home. I remember how difficult it was for my own family when they did not hear from me, even for a short time, and how quickly worry could set in across oceans and time zones. I can only begin to imagine the pain and fear that Nahida’s and Zamil’s families are experiencing right now. Please know that this is deeply personal for me, and for all of us at USF. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and USF Police Department (USFPD) have confirmed that these incidents occurred off campus, that the suspect in custody acted alone, and that there is no ongoing threat to our university community. Even with that reassurance, we understand that many of you remain concerned—and you have every right to be. We are doing everything within our power to support our students and our community. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff remains our highest priority. Students have access to TimelyCare 24/7, as well as in-person counseling services on campus. Faculty and staff can access support through the Employee Assistance Program. There also will be an increased presence from university leaders and trained professionals across campus to ensure that those who need support can receive it quickly. We will continue to share updates and resources with our community as more information becomes available. My previous messages to students, faculty and staff can be found here. We are grateful to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, USF Police Department and all law enforcement partners for their diligent work. We will continue to use every resource available to us to support the pursuit of justice for Nahida and Zamil. Members of our leadership team remain in close contact with those who were closest to these students, and we are working directly with representatives from the Bangladeshi Embassy and Consulate General to support their families during this incredibly difficult time. To our parents and families: we understand the trust you place in us when your students come to USF—especially those who are far from home. Please know that we do not take that trust lightly. We are committed, every day, to caring for your students as members of our own community. Thank you for your compassion, your support and your partnership during this difficult time. Please join me in keeping Nahida and Zamil, and all who loved them, in your thoughts and prayers. Sincerely,

Moez Limayem, PhD President University of South Florida

 

[newcomers23]

The distance between Bristy's office building and Zamil's residence is 20 minutes by walking. I wonder what did Zamil/HA texted to Bristy to convince her to travel this much in the middle of work.
The attached screenshot shows the LE couldn't decipher a message sent to Zamil by Bristy. The message is probably in Bengali, but Google can easily translate those. Can we ask the LE to share the text of that 'Unknown language'?
Given the pair was mostly in a warm friendship stage (not a mature couple), I wonder what kind of story was made up to convince this poor girl jump into danger.

 

[factseeking]

Ive just been catching up how very sad. Two beautiful humans taken from this world.

I do wonder if Chat GPT (and others like it) should be able to flag to law enforcement some of these searches especially when the internet search happens nearby the location of a missing persons case.

It never fails to amaze me how many murderers use the internet soon after murdering somebody - do they not realise that becomes very incriminating evidence?

It's also amazing how many research how they're going to kill someone prior to acting I guess not realizing that search history is out there for all time. Tbh, I thought everyone in their 20's who were raised in the age of the internet knew something that simple. We're lucky that didn't.

 

[factseeking]

The distance between Bristy's office building and Zamil's residence is 20 minutes by walking. I wonder what did Zamil/HA texted to Bristy to convince her to travel this much in the middle of work.
The attached screenshot shows the LE couldn't decipher a message sent to Zamil by Bristy. The message is probably in Bengali, but Google can easily translate those. Can we ask the LE to share the text of that 'Unknown language'?
Given the pair was mostly in a warm friendship stage (not a mature couple), I wonder what kind of story was made up to convince this poor girl jump into danger.

I wonder if she went on her own after she didn't get an answer to the text she sent in a different language at 2:39 and he didn't answer the phone when she called minutes later at 2:42 and 2:52?