A missing persons investigation involving two University of South Florida graduate students has become a murder case spanning Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, with one student’s remains recovered and the search for the other still ongoing.
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office said investigators presented evidence to the State Attorney’s Office before the new charges were filed. Officials said they would not discuss the findings further because the investigation remains active.
The case began as a missing persons investigation involving Limon and Bristy before expanding across county lines. Detectives identified Abugharbieh, whom the sheriff’s office described as Limon’s roommate, as a person of interest because of his connection to the missing students.
Deputies arrested Abugharbieh on Friday after responding at 9:09 a.m. to an unrelated domestic violence call in the 14000 block of Pine Glen Circle. The sheriff’s office said he barricaded himself inside the residence and refused commands to come out.
SWAT, the Bomb Disposal Team, the Crisis Negotiations Team and the Drone Response Team were called to the scene. Abugharbieh was taken into custody at about 10:30 a.m. without further incident.
As deputies handled the barricade call, detectives were following leads near the Howard Frankland Bridge. The sheriff’s office said Limon’s remains were found in that area.
Before the murder charges were added, Abugharbieh faced counts including tampering with physical evidence, false imprisonment, battery, unlawfully moving a dead body and failure to report a death to the medical examiner or law enforcement with intent to conceal, the sheriff’s office said.
Bristy has not been found. In a Sunday update, the sheriff’s office said human remains were recovered from waterways near Interstate 275 and 4th Street North in Pinellas County, but positive identification had not been determined.
Sheriff Chad Chronister called the case “deeply disturbing” and said detectives would continue pursuing leads. USF Police Chief Chris Daniel thanked the sheriff’s office and other Tampa Bay law enforcement partners for their work during the investigation.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active and that future updates will come from its Public Affairs Office.
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