Roommate charged with two counts of murder in death, disappearance of two USF students
Key Points:
- Hisham Abugharbieh, a former University of South Florida student, has been charged with the premeditated murder of his roommate Zamil Limon and Limon's girlfriend Nahida Bristy, both doctoral students from Bangladesh who disappeared earlier this month.
- Limon's remains were found on the Howard Frankland bridge, while Bristy remains missing; authorities continue searching for her and are conducting an autopsy on Limon's body to determine cause of death.
- Abugharbieh was taken into custody following a standoff at his family home, where he faced multiple preliminary charges including tampering with evidence and false imprisonment; he is being held without bond and has a hearing scheduled for April 28.
- Both victims were graduate students at USF, with Limon studying geography and environmental science, and Bristy a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering; Bristy's home university expressed sorrow and called for justice and compensation for the victims' families.
- Abugharbieh has a prior record including misdemeanor battery and burglary charges, domestic violence petitions, and completed a diversion program for first-time offenders; police responded to a domestic violence report at his home prior to his arrest.