A University of South Florida roommate now faces double murder charges in the deaths of two promising doctoral students, one of whose body was discovered on a Tampa bridge while the other remains missing and is feared dismembered.
Story Snapshot
- Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, charged with first-degree premeditated murder in deaths of USF doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy
- Limon’s body recovered from Howard Frankland Bridge; Bristy missing, presumed dead based on blood evidence at shared residence
- Both victims were high-achieving international students on verge of completing advanced degrees in environmental science and chemical engineering
- Case erupted from domestic violence call at off-campus home, revealing suspected dismemberment and body disposal
From Missing Persons to Murder Investigation
The case began April 16 when Zamil Limon, 27, was last seen at approximately 9 a.m. at the residence on Avalon Heights Boulevard that he shared with Abugharbieh. Nahida Bristy, 27, was last observed around 10 a.m. at the NES Building on USF’s Tampa campus. When a family friend could not reach either victim by April 17, USF Police were contacted at approximately 5 p.m. The missing persons investigation took a deadly turn Friday when deputies responded to a domestic violence call at Abugharbieh’s home near the university campus, where he barricaded himself before surrendering to authorities.
Blood Evidence and Bridge Discovery
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigators uncovered disturbing blood evidence at the shared Lake Forest Community residence during Friday’s domestic incident response. The same day, deputies discovered Limon’s remains on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, according to Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer. Authorities arrested Abugharbieh and initially charged him with battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawful movement of a body. After the State Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence Saturday, prosecutors upgraded the charges to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon, despite one victim still being missing.
Victims’ Promising Academic Futures Cut Short
Both victims were international doctoral candidates pursuing advanced research at USF. Limon was studying geography, environmental science, and policy with a focus on artificial intelligence applications and was reportedly close to presenting his thesis. Bristy was enrolled in the chemical engineering doctoral program. The loss has sent shockwaves through the university community and raised questions about safety measures for international students living in off-campus housing. Families of both victims are grappling with unimaginable grief, with Bristy’s brother Zahid Prato informed by police that his sister “is no longer with us” and that her body may never be recovered due to suspected dismemberment.
Search Continues as Suspect Held Without Bond
Law enforcement continues searching waters near the Howard Frankland Bridge for Bristy’s remains while an autopsy on Limon’s body is pending. Abugharbieh remains in custody without bond, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 28 at 9 a.m. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has deliberately withheld details about the motive and methods to preserve the investigation’s integrity. Anyone with information is urged to call the HCSO at 813-247-8200. The case highlights growing concerns about the vulnerability of students in off-campus living arrangements and the devastating consequences when trust is betrayed by those closest to victims in their daily lives.
Roommate charged with two counts of murder in death, disappearance of two USF students https://t.co/LTWmURYAGA
— WCBD News 2 | Count on 2 (@WCBD) April 25, 2026
This tragic double homicide underscores failures in protecting vulnerable members of our communities, including international students pursuing the American Dream through education and hard work. While law enforcement works to deliver justice, families are left without closure and a university campus grapples with the horrifying reality that two brilliant young scholars were allegedly murdered by someone they trusted enough to share a home with. The case serves as a sobering reminder that evil can lurk behind closed doors, and that our institutions must do more to ensure student safety extends beyond campus boundaries into the off-campus housing where many reside.
