Roommate Charged in Deaths of Two University of South Florida Doctoral Students
A former University of South Florida student has been charged with the murders of his roommate and the roommate's girlfriend, both doctoral students from Bangladesh, after one body was discovered and the other remains missing.
Authorities have charged 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the deaths of University of South Florida (USF) doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. Limon's remains were discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge over Tampa Bay, while Bristy remains missing.
Limon and Bristy, both 27 and originally from Bangladesh, were last seen on April 16. Limon was studying geography, environmental science, and policy, and Bristy was a chemical engineering student.
Abugharbieh, a former USF student and Limon's roommate, was arrested at his family's home following a standoff involving SWAT and crisis negotiators. He faces additional charges, including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery.
An autopsy is underway to determine Limon's cause of death. The search for Bristy continues, with law enforcement conducting dive operations near the bridge.
USF officials and the Tampa community have expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.