TAMPA, Fla. (Diya TV) — A chilling double homicide case involving two doctoral students at the University of South Florida has shocked the Tampa community. Authorities say one student is confirmed dead, while the other remains missing and presumed dead. Investigators have arrested a roommate and charged him with multiple serious crimes, including first-degree murder.
Police arrested 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh in connection with the deaths of Bangladeshi students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27. Limon’s body was discovered on April 24. Authorities found his remains in trash bags along the Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects Tampa to St. Petersburg. Medical examiners determined that Limon died from multiple sharp force injuries. Investigators say the attack was violent and intentional.
Bristy, also a doctoral student at USF, remains missing. However, officials now presume her dead based on evidence gathered during the investigation. Authorities recently recovered human remains in waterways near an interstate. The Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the identity.
Court documents reveal a growing body of evidence against Abugharbieh. Prosecutors allege he searched online about disposing of a body days before the victims disappeared. According to filings, he asked ChatGPT questions about placing a person in a garbage bag and dumping them.
Investigators say this search happened on April 13. Limon and Bristy were last seen alive on April 16. Police also tracked suspicious purchases. Records show Abugharbieh bought duct tape on April 7. He later purchased trash bags and lighter fluid on April 11. Detectives found similar items inside his apartment. Authorities discovered blood traces in multiple areas of the residence. The stains stretched from the kitchen to the suspect’s bedroom. Investigators also recovered a bloodstained kitchen mat, Limon’s ID, and credit cards from a dumpster near the apartment complex.
A friend reported both victims missing on April 17. That same day, a roommate told investigators he saw Abugharbieh moving boxes to a dumpster. Location data placed Abugharbieh near the Howard Frankland Bridge on April 17. This is where authorities later found Limon’s body. Investigators also found evidence linking Bristy to the apartment on the night of April 16.
Police say Abugharbieh initially denied knowing the victims’ whereabouts. He later changed his story. He told detectives he drove them to Clearwater but did not explain why. Investigators found more physical evidence, including clothing with bloodstains and a pink phone case believed to belong to Bristy. DNA testing linked key items to both victims.
Prosecutors upgraded the charges against Abugharbieh on April 25. He now faces two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a weapon. Authorities have also charged him with tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and failing to report a death. He remains in custody without bond at the county jail. A court hearing is scheduled as the case moves forward. His public defender has declined to comment.
The killings have shaken the USF community and residents across Tampa. Students and faculty continue to follow developments closely. In a statement, the university said it is mourning the loss of two students and remains committed to campus safety. Family members of the victims have asked for their remains to be handled according to Islamic traditions. They have also called for a memorial in their honor.
