A missing persons case involving two Bangladeshi doctoral students in the United States has taken a tragic turn, with one body recovered and a former student now facing double murder charges.
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both aged 27 and pursuing their PhDs at University of South Florida, were reported missing on April 17 after a family friend was unable to contact them.
The pair were last seen near the university campus in Tampa on April 16. Limon was spotted around 9 am at his off-campus residence located roughly three blocks from campus, while Bristy was last seen about an hour later.
Authorities were alerted the next day after repeated attempts to reach them failed.
Body Found On Bridge, Search Continues For Second Student
On Friday, investigators made a grim discovery when Zamil Limon’s body was recovered from the Howard Frankland Bridge.
The search for Nahida Bristy is still ongoing, with law enforcement continuing efforts to locate her and determine the full sequence of events surrounding the disappearance.
Officials confirmed that the case, which initially began as a missing persons investigation, has now been reclassified as a murder case.
Former Roommate Charged With Two Counts Of Murder
Police have arrested Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, a former student at the university who previously shared an apartment with Limon.
He has been charged with:
- Two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon
- Unlawfully moving a body
- Failing to report a death with intent to conceal
- Tampering with physical evidence
- False imprisonment
- Battery
Investigators revealed that Abugharbieh initially cooperated with police during questioning but stopped cooperating during a second round of interrogation on Thursday.
By Friday, authorities said they had gathered sufficient evidence linking him to both the disappearance and the recovery of Limon’s body.
Dramatic Arrest Involving SWAT Team
The suspect’s arrest was not immediate and involved a tense standoff.
Police said Abugharbieh barricaded himself inside a residence, forcing authorities to deploy a SWAT team and crisis negotiators.
Video footage from the scene showed an armoured vehicle stationed outside the house before the suspect eventually surrendered. He exited the home with his hands raised and a towel tied around his waist.
Authorities also revealed that the residence where he was arrested was one he had previously been barred from entering by court order.
Past Domestic Violence Allegations Surface
Court records show that Abugharbieh had a history of legal troubles.
He was arrested twice in 2023 on battery charges, though both cases were later dropped. During one incident, his brother sought a court injunction to prevent him from returning to the family home.
The brother alleged that Abugharbieh had attacked both him and their mother during an argument.
Officials also confirmed that Abugharbieh studied at the University of South Florida between 2021 and 2023, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management.
Families Await Answers As Investigation Continues
For the families of the missing students, the uncertainty has been deeply distressing.
Limon’s brother described the emotional toll of waiting for answers, saying:
“It’s devastating for us. We are becoming numb. Anything could be possible. We just want to know the truth about what happened to them. It’s not possible that two students disappear out of nowhere.”
Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive, and investigators continue searching for Nahida Bristy while building the case against the suspect.