A 26-year-old man named Hisham Abugharbieh is facing legal action for the alleged killing of two Bangladeshi doctoral students who were his roommate and a friend. According to authorities speaking on Saturday, this followed the discovery of one of the victims on a bridge in the Tampa Bay area.
Abugharbieh has been formally accused of two counts of first degree premeditated murder involving a weapon in connection with the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. The two individuals had not been seen since the previous week, according to a CNN report.
“Evidence was presented to the State Attorney’s Office, resulting in further charges against Abugharbieh. At this time, the search for Bristy continues,” the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities found Limon’s body on Friday on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. While Bristy remains unlocated, investigators have informed her family in Bangladesh that they suspect she may be dead, citing blood evidence collected from the suspect’s shared apartment. Marine and dive crews searched the waters near the bridge on Friday, and a medical examiner is still working to establish the cause of Limon’s death.
“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.
Abugharbieh was taken into custody on Friday morning after he had locked himself inside a residence, leading to a SWAT team response. He also faces additional legal counts including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery, reports CNN.
Court documents indicate that Abugharbieh had prior allegations of domestic violence. He was arrested twice in 2023 on battery charges which were subsequently dismissed. His brother had earlier sought a court order to keep him away from the family home.
Limon and Bristy were last observed near the university campus on April 16. A family friend reported them missing the next day.
Abugharbieh, a former student at USF from 2021 to 2023, had been questioned twice by law enforcement before his arrest. Investigators stated they were able to connect him to Limon’s body by Friday.
Despite the arrest, Bristy’s family continues to seek answers. “She was a joyful, promising young researcher,” her brother told US media.
