The man detained after two Bangladeshi doctoral students went missing from the University of South Florida (USF) has been charged with two counts of murder.
Hisham Abugharbieh faces two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, announced the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.
Abugharbieh was Limon’s off-campus apartment roommate, and Limon’s remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge over Tampa Bay. Bristy was still missing as of Saturday morning, but evidence presented to the local state attorney’s office led to Abugharbieh being charged with her murder as well.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated they would not be commenting on the case against Abugharbieh to protect the integrity of the investigation.
After Limon’s remains were discovered, Abugharbieh was arrested on preliminary charges that included unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery at his family’s nearby home. Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside his family’s home after officers responded to a report of domestic violence, but he eventually surrendered.
Limon and Bristy, both 27, were a couple who vanished from the USF campus on April 16. Limon, a geography, environmental science, and policy student, was last seen at his home with Abugharbieh. Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen at a campus science building.
A family friend contacted authorities on April 17 after being unable to reach either student. Abugharbieh, a US citizen, was interviewed earlier but ended the interview. He spoke with detectives after his arrest.
Abugharbieh is the sole suspect in the case and appeared in court in Tampa, where he was ordered held without bond. An autopsy was conducted on Limon to determine his cause of death.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff, Chad Chronister, described the case as deeply disturbing, expressing sympathy for those affected and commending detectives for their work.
Abugharbieh had previously studied at USF but was not enrolled at the time of his arrest. He had a history of previous arrests, including charges of battery and burglary in 2023, classified as misdemeanors.
The University confirmed that Limon and Bristy were dedicated students, with Bristy being described as a talented and promising student.
The Noakhali Science and Technology University, where Bristy was a graduate and a PhD candidate, expressed deep sadness over her passing and demanded justice for her death and compensation for her family.
(Short Context: Two Bangladeshi doctoral students disappeared from the USF campus, with one found dead and the other still missing. Their roommate, Abugharbieh, has been charged with murder in both cases.) (Fact Check: Abugharbieh faced multiple charges related to the disappearance of the students, including moving a dead body and failure to report a death.)
