Former USF Student Charged with Murder of Two Bangladeshi Doctoral Students

A former University of South Florida (USF) student has been charged with the murders of his roommate and the roommate's girlfriend, both Bangladeshi doctoral students who disappeared earlier this month.

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He appeared in court on Saturday in Tampa and was ordered held without bond, with a hearing scheduled for April 28.

Limon's remains were discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning, while Bristy remains missing.

Abugharbieh, a U.S. citizen and former USF student, was initially taken into custody on preliminary charges including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, ... , and battery.

The investigation began after Limon and Bristy, both 27, were reported missing from the USF campus on April 16. Limon was last seen at his off-campus apartment, which he shared with Abugharbieh, while Bristy was last seen an hour later at a campus science building.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of Limon's death.

Abugharbieh had attended USF from Spring 2021 through ... pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Management.

Limon was studying geography, ... , and policy, while Bristy was a chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate and a graduate of Noakhali ... university described her as a talented and ... .

The search for Bristy continues, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Hillsborough County ...

Abugharbieh has a history of previous arrests, including charges of battery and burglary in 2023, and has been involved in domestic violence petitions filed by a ... .