A 26-year-old man has been charged with the killings his roommate and the roommate’s girlfriend—both doctoral students at the University of South Florida—after they were reported missing earlier this month.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hisham Abugharbieh, who now faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder involving a weapon. The victims, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, were both 27 years old and originally from Bangladesh.
Investigators confirmed that Limon’s remains were discovered Friday morning near the Howard Frankland Bridge. However, Bristy has not yet been located, and search efforts are ongoing.
Abugharbieh was initially detained at his family’s residence after deputies responded to a domestic violence call. According to officials, he barricaded himself inside the home, prompting a SWAT response that included drones and crisis negotiators. He later surrendered without further incident.
Before the murder charges were filed, Abugharbieh faced several preliminary allegations, including tampering with evidence, failing to report a death, and unlawfully moving a body.
The victims were last seen on April 16. Limon disappeared from the off-campus apartment he shared with the suspect, while Bristy was last spotted at a campus science building about an hour later.
Officials say the two were in a relationship and had been considering marriage. An autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of Limon’s death.
Abugharbieh previously attended the University of South Florida but was not enrolled at the time of the incident. Records also show he had prior legal issues, including misdemeanor charges and domestic violence-related cases in recent years.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Bristy’s whereabouts to come forward as the investigation continues.