USF Doctoral Students’ Tragic End: Roommate Charged with Double Murder

In a tragic turn of events, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has charged Hisham Abugharbieh with two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon. The victims, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, were doctoral students at the University of South Florida (USF) who went missing on April 16th.

Abugharbieh, who was Limon's off-campus roommate, was initially arrested on preliminary charges, including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, and tampering with evidence, after Limon's remains were discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Despite Bristy's body still being missing, the local state attorney's office has sufficient evidence to charge Abugharbieh with her murder as well.

The sheriff's office has been tight-lipped about the details of the case to protect the integrity of the investigation. However, they confirmed that Abugharbieh had a history of arrests, including battery and burglary charges in 2023. He was also the subject of two domestic violence petitions filed by a family member in the same year.

The case has gained national media attention, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff, Chad Chronister, acknowledging the community's distress. An autopsy was being conducted on Limon to determine the cause and manner of death, with results expected by Saturday.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the USF community and beyond, highlighting the importance of campus safety and the need for comprehensive support systems for international students.