Categories: News, Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
(813) 557-3366 | [email protected]
TAMPA, FL (May 8, 2026) — The State Attorney’s Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Hisham Abugharbieh, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two University of South Florida graduate students. The defendant is accused of stabbing both Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon to death before disposing of their bodies in trash bags. A grand jury returned an indictment on May 7 on two charges of first-degree murder.
The victims’ friends reported them missing to USF Police on April 17. In the following days, investigators interviewed several people about the students’ whereabouts, including the defendant, who was Limon’s roommate. They discovered not only physical evidence in the defendant’s apartment, but cell phone data and search history that led them to believe he was involved in their disappearances. Using geolocation data from Abugharbieh’s cell phone, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office searched for evidence along the Howard Frankland bridge. Detectives found Limon’s body in a trash bag on the north side of the northbound lanes of the bridge. Two days later, Bristy’s body was found in a similar bag by kayakers who were fishing in the area just southwest of where Limon’s body was discovered.
Prosecutors have identified the necessary aggravating factors under Florida law to seek the death penalty. The aggravating factors in this case include: the homicides were committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner; the crimes were especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel; and that the defendant committed multiple homicides during the same criminal episode.
“This tragic case has shaken our entire community and devastated two families who live halfway across the world. These young students came to our community from Bangladesh to pursue their doctoral degrees and build brighter futures. Their lives were cut short by an unthinkable act of violence. We will ask the jury to sentence the defendant to death for his crimes. These are families who sent their children across the world with hope and now they are left with an unimaginable loss. We stand with them in their grief, and we will not stop seeking justice for Nahida and Zamil,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Major Crimes Prosecutor Lindsey Hodges will be the lead prosecutor on this case. Death Penalty Specialist Scott Harmon, Chief of Major Crimes John Terry, and Assistant State Attorney Jessica Couvertier will assist. The defendant’s arraignment date has not yet been set.