Former USF Student Charged With Double Murder Following Disappearance of Bangladeshi Doctoral Candidates

Hisham Abugharbieh faces double murder charges in the deaths of USF PhD candidates Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy following a police standoff in Tampa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 7:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Guardian

Double Murder Charges Filed After Targeted Search

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has booked Hisham Abugharbieh on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the deaths of two doctoral students from the University of South Florida. The suspect was the off-campus roommate of one victim, Zamil Limon, whose remains were recovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning. While the second victim, Nahida Bristy, remains missing, investigators presented sufficient evidence to the state attorney’s office to secure a murder charge in her case as well. Sheriff Chad Chronister characterized the case as deeply disturbing, noting that detectives are working tirelessly to uncover the full truth behind the tragedy.

Standoff and Tactical Arrest at Family Residence

Abugharbieh’s arrest was preceded by a volatile confrontation with law enforcement at his family’s home north of the university campus. Officers initially responded to reports of domestic violence and successfully evacuated the suspect's relatives before Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside the residence. A specialized tactical unit, supported by drones, robots, and crisis negotiators, was deployed to manage the scene. The standoff concluded when the suspect surrendered, emerging from the home wearing only a towel. Preliminary charges filed prior to the murder counts included tampering with evidence, battery, false imprisonment, and the unlawful movement of a deceased body.

The Disappearance of the Promising Academic Couple

Victims Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, were prominent members of the international academic community at USF and were reportedly planning for marriage. Limon, a student of geography and environmental science, was last seen at the apartment he shared with the suspect on April 16, while Bristy, a chemical engineering student, was last seen at a campus science building an hour later. The alarm was raised on April 17 by a family friend who was unable to establish contact with either student. Bristy was a graduate of Noakhali Science and Technology University in Bangladesh, which issued a statement mourning the loss of a talented PhD candidate.