Physical evidence and digital searches tie suspect to murders
Physical evidence, digital searches, and autopsy findings built the murder case against the arrested suspect.
Event / Security
USF Doctoral Students Murder Case
Two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh disappeared in April 2026. One body was found; the other is presumed dead. Their roommate has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-18 to 2026-11-15 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Apr, 02:07 UTC
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What happened
Body of second USF student recovered from water
Nahida Bristy's body was found in nearby water two days after Limon's body was discovered, which would be April 26.
Grand jury indicts man on two counts of first-degree murder in deaths of USF students
A grand jury indicted Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, on two counts of first-degree murder and several other charges in connection with the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh at the University of South Florida.
Suspect arrested in connection with disappearance of two students
Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh was arrested approximately one week after the students went missing on April 16, which places the arrest around April 23. He remained in jail awaiting trial.
Prosecutors seek death penalty for suspect in killings of two doctoral students
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office filed a notice to seek the death penalty against Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh if he is convicted in the deaths of the two USF doctoral students.
Police discover victim's belongings and blood evidence in suspect's apartment
Detectives found Limon's wallet, campus ID badge, credit card, eyeglasses, and blood-stained clothes in the apartment's trash compactor. A search warrant revealed blood residue leading from the kitchen to Abugharbieh's bedroom and blood soaked into his bedroom carpet. In Limon's bedroom, detectives found Bristy's campus ID and credit cards.
Body of USF student found on bridge with stab wounds
Zamil Limon's body was found on a bridge on April 24. He had numerous stab wounds and appeared to be bound. Detectives tracked Abugharbieh's car and Limon's phone to the bridge location using cellphone location and license plate reader data.
Two USF doctoral students from Bangladesh reported missing
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh, disappeared on April 16. Limon was last seen at an off-campus apartment complex where he lived with Abugharbieh, and Bristy was last seen at a campus science building.
Suspect asked ChatGPT about disposing of bodies before murders
Court documents show that Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh allegedly asked ChatGPT how to dispose of a body in the days before Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon disappeared on April 16, 2026.
Roommate Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder
Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, the roommate of Zamil Limon, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Limon and Bristy. He is also charged with battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully moving a body. Abugharbieh is being held without bond.
Suspect's family previously reported erratic behavior to police
Abugharbieh's family, including his younger brother Ahmad, had previously warned police about his erratic behavior. A protective order filed in 2023 alleged that Abugharbieh sometimes acted violently and "would start screaming in the middle of the night about how he is God and we should all bow down to him." Court records show Abugharbieh has been estranged from his family since 2023.
Evidence shows premeditated planning in the killings
A forensic examination of Abugharbieh's phone revealed searches in the days before the murders including "Can a knife penetrate a skull?" and "Can a neighbor hear a gunshot?" He also purchased Lysol wipes, heavy-duty contractor-grade trash bags, and other equipment. Blood evidence was found throughout the shared apartment, including in the kitchen, hallway, and in Abugharbieh's room where luminol revealed blood in the shape of a human body in the fetal position next to his bed.
Body of USF doctoral student Nahida Bristy identified in Tampa Bay
Human remains found in Tampa Bay in a garbage bag were identified as Nahida Bristy, a 27-year-old University of South Florida doctoral student from Bangladesh studying chemical engineering. The body was discovered by a kayaker on Sunday and identified using DNA and dental records. Bristy had been missing since April 16, 2026.
Body of USF doctoral student Zamil Limon found in Tampa Bay
The body of Zamil Limon, a 27-year-old University of South Florida doctoral student from Bangladesh studying geography and environmental science, was found in garbage bags on the Howard Frankland Bridge over Tampa Bay. Limon had been missing since April 16, 2026. His body was discovered two days before Bristy's remains were found.
Suspect showed no emotion when presented with evidence of killings
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated that the suspect was nonreactive and showed no emotion when investigators presented him with details of the killings, describing him as callous.
Suspect purchased items consistent with body disposal shortly before disappearance
Shortly before 11 p.m. on April 16, Abugharbieh received a DoorDash delivery from CVS containing trash bags, Lysol wipes, Febreze, and Irish Spring Body Wash. Earlier in the month, he had ordered duct tape, fire starter, charcoal, additional trash bags, and lighter fuel from Amazon. Around 12:26 a.m. on April 17, he asked ChatGPT whether cars were checked at Hillsborough River State Park.
Medical examiner confirms victim died from multiple stab wounds
The Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Zamil Limon sustained numerous lacerations and stab wounds to his abdomen and lower back. His cause of death was determined to be multiple sharp force injuries. His body was found in advanced stages of decomposition, placed in black utility trash bags with deep cuts made at the hips to permit folding of the legs, and his wrists and ankles appeared to be bound.
Hisham Abugharbieh charged with two counts of first-degree murder in student deaths
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. Abugharbieh was Limon's roommate. He was arrested on Friday after barricading himself at a residence and was ordered held without bond. A detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.
Prosecutors present physical evidence linking suspect to victims' deaths
Detectives found blood evidence in Abugharbieh's apartment bedroom, including patterns on the floor with a human-sized shape. Items belonging to the victims were discovered in the apartment complex's trash compactor, including Limon's wallet, glasses, and bloodied clothing, as well as Bristy's iPhone case. Trash bags found under Abugharbieh's bed matched those discovered on the bridge where Limon's body was located. Cell phone and license plate reader data showed Abugharbieh's vehicle and Limon's phone were both in Clearwater Beach on April 16.
Two University of South Florida doctoral students found dead in Tampa Bay area
Zamil Limon, 27, a geography and environmental science doctoral student, and Nahida Bristy, 27, a chemical engineering doctoral student, were last seen alive on April 16. Limon's remains were discovered on the side of the Howard Frankland Bridge near Tampa on Friday. Human remains believed to be Bristy were recovered from waterways near the bridge on Sunday. Both students were from Bangladesh and were considering getting married.
Murder suspect queried ChatGPT about disposing of bodies before victims disappeared
On April 13, three days before the victims were last seen alive, Hisham Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT 'What happens if a human has a put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster.' ChatGPT responded that the question sounded dangerous. Abugharbieh then asked 'How would they find out.' On April 15, he asked whether a gun could be kept at home without a license. On April 19, he asked if Apple would know the identity of a new iPhone user after the previous user, and whether neighbors would hear gunfire.
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2 alternative perspectives
Grand jury indicts suspect; prosecutors pursue death penalty in USF case
Grand jury indicts suspect on two murder counts; prosecutors seek death penalty.
Suspect's digital searches and behavioral patterns paint premeditation picture
Suspect's premeditated digital searches, emotional detachment, and documented behavioral history indicate planning and capability.
Suspect searched body disposal methods before students vanished
Suspect's ChatGPT body disposal searches preceded victims' disappearance and bolster premeditation allegations.
Physical evidence links suspect to victims in forensic case analysis
Forensic evidence—autopsy results, purchase records, and physical evidence—directly links suspect to both student deaths.
Murder charges escalate against suspect in USF doctoral students case
First-degree murder charges filed against suspect in USF students case as investigation escalates.
Suspect arrested and charged in connection with USF students case
Suspect arrested and charged in USF doctoral students case after campus domestic violence incident.
Body of USF doctoral student discovered; second student still missing
USF doctoral student Zamil Limon found dead on bridge; fellow student Nahida Bristy still missing.