USF police seek public help locating 2 missing doctoral students in Tampa
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Two doctoral students at the University of South Florida have been missing for almost a week, prompting police to appeal to the public in hopes of finding the couple.
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, were last seen separately in Tampa, Florida, on April 16, the University of South Florida Police Department (USFPD) said Tuesday.
Limon, a USF doctoral student majoring in geography and environmental science and policy, was last seen at her home around 9 a.m.
Bristy, a doctoral student studying chemical engineering at USF, was last seen around 10 a.m. on the USF Tampa campus in the NES Building.
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Nahida Bristy, a doctoral student studying chemical engineering at USF, was last seen around 10 a.m. on April 16 on the USF Tampa campus in the NES Building. (University of South Florida Police Department)
A family friend notified the police at around 4.50pm on April 17 after growing concerned about not being able to contact both Limon and Bristy.
Both have since been added to state and national missing persons databases, police said.
Zamil Limon, a USF doctoral student majoring in geography and environmental science and policy, was last seen at his home around 9 a.m. on April 16. (University of South Florida Police Department)
Limon’s brother told FOX 13 He stated that the situation was quite unusual and described the doctoral students as “responsible and punctual”.
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“He is a very responsible and punctual person and that is why the situation is so unpredictable and unusual for us… and very suspicious,” Limon’s younger brother in Bangladesh, Zubaer Ahmed, told the press.
“We are in deep pain and [it’s a] “It is a devastating situation,” he said.
Ahmed spoke to his brother last Monday and said he would be quite busy working on his thesis. Limon’s research focuses on using generative artificial intelligence to study Florida’s shrinking wetlands, his brother said.
Ahmed said Limon and Bristy discussed the possibility of getting married in the future, but they focused on their education.
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“Another important point is that they talked about having a future together, but they are not that serious about it. They are both thinking about whether we can get married together and discussing it,” he said.
University of South Florida Police Department Public Information Officer Larry McKinnon tells FOX 13 that foul play is not suspected at this point in the investigation into the missing college students. (FOX 13)
USF Public Information Officer Larry McKinnon told FOX 13 that no stone will be left unturned in the search for Limon and Bristy, but authorities are not seeing any signs of malicious activity at this time.
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“Everyone is obviously very concerned, as are we. Their behavior is not typical, they are graduate students,” McKinnon said. “At this time we have no information of foul play or suspicious circumstances.”
“When we get to a point where we’re not successful in locating them, our next best resource is the public. That’s where we are,” he said. “Everyone is hoping for a positive outcome on this. That’s why we’re taking it very seriously and making sure we leave no stone unturned in finding them.”
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Detectives with USFPD and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call USFPD at 813-974-2628.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and USFP for additional information.
