Roommate Charged in USF Students' Murders

Hisham Abugharbieh, the roommate of Zamil Limon, a University of South Florida doctoral student, has been charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Limon and his partner Nahida Bristy. According to multiple reports, Limon's remains were discovered on Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge over Tampa Bay.

Bristy, also a doctoral student at USF, remained missing as of Saturday morning. However, unspecified evidence presented to the local state attorney’s office led to Abugharbieh being booked with her murder in addition to Limon’s. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has stated that it would not be commenting on the findings in the case against Abugharbieh “to protect the integrity of the investigation.”

After the discovery of Limon’s remains, Abugharbieh was arrested at his family’s home nearby on preliminary charges that included unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery. Officers encountered Abugharbieh as they responded to a report of domestic violence at his family’s home, just north of the campus, and were able to remove his relatives to safety. He then barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. A special tactical team responded, along with a drone, a robot, and crisis negotiators, before Abugharbieh came out with his hands up, apparently wearing nothing but a blue towel.

Limon and Bristy, both 27, were a couple considering marriage. They disappeared from the USF campus on April 16. Limon was last seen at his home in an apartment complex where he lived with Abugharbieh. Bristy was last seen an hour later at a campus science building. A family friend contacted authorities on April 17 after being unable to contact either one, according to USF police.

An autopsy was being conducted on Limon to determine his manner and cause of death. Results were possible by Saturday, according to investigators. “This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. Abugharbieh had studied at USF but was not enrolled at the time of his arrest. University records showed he had attended the school from 2021 to 2023 and pursued a bachelor’s of science in management.

Bristy's brother told CNN that investigators believed she may be dead because of the amount of blood found in Limon and Abugharbieh's apartment. Divers have been searching the waters near where Limon's body was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects Tampa and St. Petersburg across Old Tampa Bay.

Abugharbieh had several previous arrests, including battery and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling in September 2023, and another battery charge in May 2023. Court records show he entered into a diversion program for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors and completed the program in 2024, resulting in the discontinuation of those charges. Additionally, there were two domestic violence petitions filed by a family member in 2023; one was granted an injunction while the other was denied.