HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has officially elevated the status of two missing University of South Florida doctoral students to endangered. Detectives are continuing their search for 27-year-olds Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, who have been missing since April 16, 2026.
According to investigators, new information has come to light that led to the change in status. To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, the Sheriff’s Office is not releasing specific details regarding the evidence that prompted the endangered classification.
HCSO recently assumed the lead on both missing persons cases to streamline search efforts. Detectives have been actively following leads and conducting searches across multiple locations in both Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. The USF Police Department remains involved and is assisting in the case.
Limon, a geography and environmental science student, was last seen at his residence on Avalon Heights Blvd. at 9:00 a.m. on the day of his disappearance. Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen an hour later at the NES Building on the USF Tampa campus. The search began on April 17 after a friend notified authorities that they could not reach either person.
The community is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 with any information that may assist in locating Bristy and Limon.
Previous Report: Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have assumed the lead role in the investigation to locate two missing University of South Florida doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida S. Bristy. Both 27-year-olds were last seen on April 16, 2026.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the decision to consolidate the cases was made to streamline the investigation and expedite the search.
While HCSO is now the lead agency, the USF Police Department continues to assist with the ongoing efforts.
Zamil Limon, a student in the geography, environmental science, and policy program, was last seen at 9:00 a.m. on April 16 at his residence on Avalon Heights Blvd. Nahida S. Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen an hour later at 10:00 a.m. at the NES Building on the USF Tampa campus.
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Authorities report that detectives are actively following leads and conducting searches across several locations, specifically within Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
The missing person reports were originally initiated on April 17 after a family friend was unable to contact either individual.
The community is urged to help. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Limon or Bristy, please contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200 or the USFPD at (813) 974-2628.
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