Body found by Tampa Bay kayaker identified as second missing Bangladesh student

A body found in Tampa Bay in Florida has been identified as a second missing student from Bangladesh.

Nahida Bristy's remains were found on Sunday in a rubbish bag uncovered by a kayaker whose fishing line got caught.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said DNA and dental records had identified the remains.

Fellow University of South Florida student, Zamil Limon, was found in another bag on the Howard Frankland Bridge two days before.

Mr Limon's roommate Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, was arrested after a brief standoff and faces two murder charges.

Sheriff Chronister said the suspect appeared unmoved when confronted with the evidence.

A motive is yet to be established but authorities think the pair, who disappeared on 16 April, were killed around the same time and place.

The sheriff said grisly details had been recovered from Abugharbieh's phone, which had recently been erased.

Recent searches included "can a knife penetrate a skull?" and "can a neighbour hear a gunshot?"

Abugharbieh also allegedly bought builders' rubbish bags and disinfectant wipes, while blood was found in the kitchen and bedroom of the flat he shared with Limon.

"This was calculating. That's what makes this so premeditated," the sheriff added.

Mr Chronister said a luminol spray - used to reveal cleaned-up blood stains - also suggested a body had been curled in the foetal position next to Abugharbieh's bed.

Prosecutors also allege Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT about disposing of a body on 13 April, three days before Limon and Bristy were last seen alive.

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The US-born suspect - who hasn't yet entered a plea - had dropped out of the university, while Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, and Bristy was studying chemical engineering.

A relative said the pair, both 27, were considering getting married.

(c) Sky News 2026: Body found by Tampa Bay kayaker identified as second missing Bangladesh student