Roommate Charged With Killing Two University Of South Florida Doctoral Students After One Was Found Dead

A erstwhile University of South Florida student has been charged pinch execution successful nan deaths of 2 missing doctoral students aft one of them was recovered dormant this week.

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, has been charged pinch 2 counts of first-degree execution successful nan deaths of his roommate, Zamil Limon, and Limon’s friend, Nahida Bristy, some 27, who were reported missing soon aft they were past seen connected April 16.

Limon’s assemblage was discovered Friday greeting connected nan Howard Frankland Bridge, which spans Old Tampa Bay betwixt Tampa and St. Petersburg, astir 20 miles from his off-campus location adjacent nan university, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer.

Bristy remains missing, and marine and dive teams person been searching nan waters adjacent nan bridge.

Abugharbieh was taken into custody connected Friday aft deputies responded to a home unit telephone astatine a location little than a mile and a half from wherever Limon was past seen.

“This is simply a profoundly disturbing lawsuit that has shaken our organization and impacted galore who were hoping for a safe resolution,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Friday.

When deputies arrived, Abugharbieh barricaded himself wrong and refused to travel out, Maurer said. A SWAT team, explosive disposal portion and situation negotiators were called in, and he surrendered astir 10:30 a.m.

Abugharbieh was initially arrested connected charges including battery, mendacious imprisonment, tampering pinch evidence, nonaccomplishment to study a decease and unlawfully moving a dormant body.

The sheriff’s agency said nan first-degree execution charges were revenge Saturday aft investigators presented grounds to nan Florida State Attorney’s Office. Authorities person not disclosed a motive.

Investigators told Bristy’s family that, based connected nan measurement of humor discovered astatine Abugharbieh's residence, which he shared pinch Limon, she is besides apt dead, CBS News reported.

“Police told america she is nary longer pinch us,” Bristy's brother, Zahid Prato, told CBS News, adding that they were told that she whitethorn person been dismembered and that her assemblage whitethorn ne'er beryllium found.

Limon and Bristy, some from Bangladesh, went missing wrong astir an hr of each different connected April 16. Limon, who was pursuing a Ph.D. successful geography, biology subject and policy, was past seen astir 9 a.m. astatine his flat a fewer blocks from campus.

Bristy, a doctoral student successful chemic engineering who lived connected campus, was past seen astir an hr later astatine nan university’s Natural and Environmental Sciences Building.

A family friend reported them missing nan adjacent time aft being incapable to scope either student, prompting a multi-agency search.

Investigators said Abugharbieh, who studied business guidance astatine nan assemblage from 2021 to 2023 but is not presently enrolled, was identified arsenic a personification of liking during nan investigation.

Limon's origin of decease will beryllium wished by nan Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office.

Authorities proceed to hunt for Bristy and are asking anyone pinch accusation to interaction rule enforcement.

“While nan find of Zamil Limon’s remains is heartbreaking, I want nan nationalist to cognize that our detectives worked and are moving tirelessly and relentlessly to uncover nan truth,” Sheriff Chronister added.

“We will proceed to travel each fact, prosecute each lead, and usage each instrumentality disposable to clasp those responsible afloat accountable. Our thoughts stay pinch nan families of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy during this time.”