"The bag was tied in a knot consistent with the bag containing Limon's remains, and the body had multiple stab wounds consistent with Limon's injuries."
Hillsborough County, FL — Authorities have charged Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of University of South Florida (USF) doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. The case has unfolded over several days, involving the discovery of remains, a suspect arrest, and a history of prior incidents.
Victims and Disappearance
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27 and originally from Bangladesh, were doctoral students at USF. Limon was studying geography, environmental science, and policy, focusing on artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring. Bristy was a doctoral candidate in chemical engineering. According to relatives, the two had a past romantic relationship and were considering marriage.
Both individuals were last seen on the morning of April 16. Limon was last seen at 9 a.m. at his off-campus residence in Tampa, which he shared with Abugharbieh. Bristy was last seen at 10 a.m. at the Natural and Environmental Sciences (NES) Building on the USF Tampa campus. A family friend reported them missing to authorities on April 17 after being unable to contact them.
Discovery of Remains
On April 18, the remains of Zamil Limon were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be "multiple sharp force injuries," including a deep stab wound to the lower back that penetrated his liver. His body was discovered within multiple black utility trash bags.
On April 20, kayakers fishing in mangroves near the Howard Frankland Bridge discovered a black trash bag containing human remains. On April 25, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office confirmed through DNA and dental records that these remains were those of Nahida Bristy. An arrest affidavit stated the bag was tied in a knot consistent with the bag containing Limon's remains, and the body had multiple stab wounds consistent with Limon's injuries.
Suspect Arrest and Charges
Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon's 26-year-old roommate and a former USF student, was taken into custody on April 18. Law enforcement officials responded to a domestic violence report at his family's home, north of the USF campus. After a standoff where Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside, he surrendered to a tactical team.
Abugharbieh was initially held on preliminary charges, which were later upgraded to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon. He also faces charges of battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully moving a dead body. He was ordered held without bond and is scheduled for a court hearing on April 28.
Investigation and Evidence
Investigators reported finding significant blood patterns in the apartment shared by Limon and Abugharbieh. An arrest affidavit noted two distinct blood patterns on the bedroom floor which appeared to be "human-sized shapes."
Prosecutors presented evidence including court documents indicating Abugharbieh consulted the ChatGPT chatbot on April 13, asking questions about disposing of a body. Other searches from April 15 to April 17 included queries about changing a VIN number, keeping a gun at home without a license, and whether cars are checked at a state park.
"Investigators reported finding significant blood patterns in the apartment... two distinct blood patterns on the bedroom floor which appeared to be 'human-sized shapes.'"
Cell phone location data showed Abugharbieh's phone pinged at the location on the Howard Frankland Bridge where Limon's remains were found on the night of April 17. A CVS receipt from April 16 found in the shared apartment listed trash bags, Lysol wipes, and Febreze. A roommate reported seeing Abugharbieh moving boxes to a dumpster on April 17; Limon's ID and credit cards were later recovered from that dumpster.
Suspect Background
Abugharbieh was a USF student from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in management. He was not enrolled at the time of the events.
According to court records and statements from his family, Abugharbieh had a prior criminal record and a history of reported violent behavior. In 2023, he was arrested on charges including battery and burglary, which were classified as misdemeanors. Court records show two domestic violence petitions were filed by a family member in 2023; one injunction was granted, and the other was denied. His brother stated that the family had previously contacted police about Abugharbieh's erratic behavior, and a protective order was granted in 2023 after the brother alleged Abugharbieh assaulted him.
Ongoing Investigation
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office stated the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not identified any other suspects at this time. Officials have stated they are working to release both bodies to their families in Bangladesh for religious reasons.