Roommate Formally Charged With Two Counts Of First-Degree Murder In USF Students Case
Hisham Abugharbieh was formally charged on Saturday in Hillsborough County with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of two University of South Florida doctoral students. (npr.org)
Prosecutors added counts of domestic violence, evidence tampering and failure to report a death, and officials say he is being held without bond ahead of an April 28 hearing. CBS News Investigators say Zamil Limon's remains were positively identified near the Howard Frankland Bridge, while Nahida Bristy remains missing and searches continue. (foxnews.com)
The episode traces back to April 16, when 27-year-olds Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were last seen separately in the USF Tampa area, prompting family reports and searches across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. CBS News The investigation escalated after new information led to an endangered-persons alert, a Lake Forest neighborhood lockdown and a tactical standoff at a family home that ended with the suspect's surrender. Fox News Abugharbieh had attended USF from spring 2021 through spring 2023 and faced 2023 battery and burglary arrests that were later resolved through a diversion program. (npr.org)
Early reports treated the case as two missing students and focused on family concern and searches. CBS News Later coverage by outlets including CBS and NPR shifted to a homicide probe after a body was found and investigators described substantial blood evidence at the shared residence. (npr.org)
Community members and relatives have pressed for transparency and swift justice, and authorities are urging anyone with tips or information to contact investigators as the search for Bristy's remains continues. (foxnews.com)
Show source details & analysis (12 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Both students—Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy—are 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh; Limon studied AI applied to environmental science and was scheduled to present his doctoral thesis, Bristy was a chemical engineering doctoral student, and family members say both had flights booked to Bangladesh and that their disappearances are "very unusual."
- USF Police say Limon was last seen about 9 a.m. April 16 at his Tampa residence and Bristy was last seen about 10 a.m. April 16 on the USF Tampa campus.
- Authorities found and positively identified the remains of Zamil Limon on the Howard Frankland Bridge; Nahida Bristy remains missing and the search for her continues.
- Hillsborough County has charged roommate Hisham Abugharbieh with two counts of first‑degree premeditated murder with a weapon and additional counts including domestic violence, evidence tampering and failure to report a death.
- Investigators told the family that Nahida Bristy is likely dead based on the volume of blood found in the shared residence and have said her body may have been dismembered; searches for her remains are ongoing.
- Law enforcement carried out a tactical standoff and SWAT response at the suspect’s family home in the Lake Forest community, briefly closing the neighborhood, taking a person into custody and presenting evidence to the State Attorney’s Office that led to murder charges.
- NPR reports Abugharbieh is a native‑born U.S. citizen and a former USF student (enrolled Spring 2021–Spring 2023, BS in Management) with prior 2023 battery and burglary arrests resolved through a diversion program; a court has ordered him held without bond and set an April 28 hearing.
📰 Source Timeline (12)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 25, 2026
9:11 PM
Roommate charged with two counts of murder in death, disappearance of two USF students
New information:
- Confirms the suspect is a former USF student, enrolled from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023 pursuing a BS in Management.
- Details that Hisham Abugharbieh is a native-born U.S. citizen with prior 2023 battery and burglary arrests resolved through a diversion program completed in 2024.
- Specifies that Limon’s remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning, while Bristy remains missing and the search continues.
- Describes the tactical standoff and SWAT response at the suspect’s family home, including his barricade and eventual surrender.
- Notes that a court has already ordered Abugharbieh held without bond and set an April 28 hearing.
2:59 PM
Barricaded suspect faces murder charges after 2 doctoral students vanished from campus, 1 body remains missing
New information:
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office states that evidence has been presented to the State Attorney's Office, which resulted in two additional counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon against Hisham Abugharbieh.
- Sheriff's statement confirms Abugharbieh is now formally facing two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of both Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, on top of earlier body-handling and evidence-tampering charges.
- Article reiterates that Limon's remains were positively identified near the Howard Frankland Bridge and that the search for Bristy continues, with authorities urging the public to provide tips.
2:55 PM
Man faces murder charges in case of USF doctoral students as police still search for 1 of them
New information:
- CBS reiterates that a 26-year-old man is now facing murder charges connected to the disappearance of two USF doctoral students.
- Confirms that one student has been found dead while police are still actively searching for the other.
- Reaffirms that authorities publicly described the case as involving murder charges tied to the students' disappearance.
11:50 AM
Roommate faces murder charges in deaths of 2 doctoral students
New information:
- Hillsborough County officials have now charged roommate Hisham Abugharbieh with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon.
- Authorities told the family of missing doctoral student Nahida Bristy that she is likely dead based on the volume of blood found in the shared residence, and they believe her body may have been dismembered.
- Abugharbieh also faces charges of domestic violence, evidence tampering, and failure to report a death, in addition to the murder counts.
- Investigators are still actively searching for Bristy's remains while Limon's cause of death awaits autopsy results.
April 24, 2026
11:30 PM
One of 2 missing Florida doctoral students found dead, roommate in custody, police say
New information:
- CBS specifies that the body was found along a major bridge.
- The report reiterates that the victim is one of two missing doctoral students and that the victim's roommate is under arrest.
- Confirms the timing that the students had been missing for more than a week before the body was found.
8:27 PM
Roommate arrested after missing Florida doctoral student found dead
New information:
- Police say one of the two missing University of South Florida doctoral students has been found dead.
- Authorities state that a roommate of the students has been arrested and taken into custody.
- The arrest links the person in custody directly to the victim as a roommate, clarifying their relationship.
6:03 PM
Barricaded suspect in custody, body found after two doctoral students vanish from campus, nearby home: police
New information:
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office closed the entrance and exit of the Lake Forest community on Friday for an operation tied to the missing USF students.
- A barricaded person linked to the disappearance of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy was taken into custody after the neighborhood lockdown.
- Authorities report that one body has been found in connection with the disappearance of the two doctoral students, with further details to be given at a news conference.
4:56 PM
Person in custody in search for missing USF doctoral students
New information:
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says a person connected to the disappearance is in custody after a barricade at a home in the Lake Forest Community near USF.
- Officials state the person in custody is not one of the missing students and decline to say if they are a suspect.
- The sheriff's office briefly shut down the entrance and exit of the Lake Forest Community due to law enforcement activity.
- HCSO elevated the status of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy to endangered on Thursday based on newly developed information, without detailing that information.
April 23, 2026
5:11 PM
USF police seek help after 2 doctoral students from Bangladesh vanish in Tampa
New information:
- Confirms both students, 27-year-olds Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, were last seen April 16 on the USF Tampa campus, one at a student apartment and one at a campus science building.
- States that a family friend first contacted authorities on Friday after being unable to reach the couple.
- USF police spokesman Larry McKinnon says investigators do not believe the pair were detained by federal immigration officers.
- Adds details on Limon's research using generative AI to study Florida wetlands and notes the couple had discussed marriage but were focused on completing their degrees.
12:27 PM
Families concerned over disappearance of 2 doctoral students: "It's very unusual"
New information:
- CBS video piece confirms families have now spoken publicly on camera and stress that the disappearances are 'very unusual' for both students.
- Reiterates Tampa police are actively searching and that neither student has been seen since April 16.
- Adds visual and emotional context from family interviews but no new concrete investigative details beyond prior timeline reporting.
April 22, 2026
9:46 PM
2 University of South Florida doctoral students have gone missing, authorities say
New information:
- Names of the missing students are Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, and both from Bangladesh.
- USF Police specify last known times and places: Limon last seen around 9 a.m. April 16 at his Tampa residence; Bristy last seen about 10 a.m. April 16 on the USF Tampa campus.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says detectives are actively following leads and conducting searches in multiple locations across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
- Limon studies AI in environmental science and was scheduled to present his doctoral thesis this week; Bristy is a chemical engineering doctoral student.
- Family and friends describe daily contact patterns, say both already had flights booked to Bangladesh for summer break, and call the disappearances "extremely suspicious" and out of character.
- A lab friend says Limon had put "work from home" on a shared Outlook calendar for the day they vanished, and relatives say the pair had discussed a future together but prioritized studies.