Roommate faces murder charges after 2 South Florida grad students go missing

A roommate is facing two murder charges in the disappearances of two University of South Florida graduate students. Hisham Saleh Abugharbeih was arrested after investigators discovered the body of 27-year-old Zamil Limon, who lived with the suspect. He now faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon.

Authorities said he was initially charged with failure to report a death and unlawfully moving a body, along with battery and false imprisonment. According to police, Abugharbeih barricaded himself inside a home in Tampa before being taken into custody on Friday. Investigators said they have evidence linking Abugharbeih to the killing of both Limon and his girlfriend, Nahida Bristy.

Limon and Bristy were last seen on April 16. The couple, originally from Bangladesh, were reported missing by a friend after they could not be reached and their phones were turned off. Limon was a doctoral student studying geography, environmental science, and policy. Bristy was studying chemical engineering, according to the New York Post.

Dive teams searched Old Tampa Bay near the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday to locate Bristy’s body after finding Limon’s remains nearby. Bristy is presumed dead.

“This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “While the discovery of Zamil Limon’s remains is heartbreaking, I want the public to know that our detectives worked and are working tirelessly and relentlessly to uncover the truth. We will continue to follow every fact, pursue every lead, and use every tool available to hold those responsible fully accountable.”