Horror in Tampa: Roommate charged after disappearance of two doctoral students turns deadly

A doctoral student at the University of South Florida has been found dead on a Tampa Bay bridge, while his roommate has been charged with killing him and another missing student, authorities said Saturday.

The suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in connection with the deaths of 27-year-old Bangladeshi students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, who had both been reported missing last week.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, additional evidence was submitted to the State Attorney’s Office, leading to further charges against Abugharbieh. The search for Bristy is still ongoing.
Limon’s body was discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa on Friday. Bristy has yet to be located, although investigators have informed her family in Bangladesh that she is believed to be dead based on the amount of blood found in the apartment she shared with Limon and the suspect.
Marine and dive teams searched waters near the bridge on Friday in an effort to locate Bristy. Meanwhile, a medical examiner is working to determine Limon’s exact cause of death, with autopsy results expected soon.
Describing the case as deeply disturbing, Sheriff Chad Chronister said the incident has shaken the community and affected many who had hoped for a safe outcome.
Abugharbieh was arrested Friday morning after police responded to a domestic violence call at his residence. In addition to the murder charges, he is also facing counts of unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death with intent to conceal, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery.
He appeared in court on Saturday and will remain in custody pending a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for April 28. Prosecutors intend to argue that he poses a continued danger to the community.
Authorities say the charges are currently based on probable cause, with formal charges to follow after a full review of the evidence. It remains unclear whether the suspect has legal representation.
Limon and Bristy were reported missing on April 17 after they were last seen near the university campus the previous day. Family members of Limon had been seeking answers, describing him as a cheerful and promising researcher.
University President Moez Limayem said the institution will continue supporting the families of the affected students during the ongoing investigation.
Before his arrest, Abugharbieh had been interviewed by investigators multiple times but reportedly stopped cooperating during a second round of questioning. Authorities later linked him to both the case and Limon’s body.
During his arrest, he barricaded himself inside a home, prompting a response from a SWAT team and crisis negotiators before eventually surrendering.
The suspect had a history of prior arrests in 2023 on battery charges, though those cases were later dropped. Court records also show that his brother had previously obtained a restraining order against him over alleged violent incidents.
Limon had been pursuing a Ph.D in geography, environmental science, and policy, while Bristy was studying chemical engineering. According to Limon’s family, the two shared a close relationship and had discussed the possibility of marriage.
As investigations continue, Limon’s family says they remain in deep pain, seeking answers about what led to the tragic outcome.