TAMPA, Fla., April 25, 2026 A 26-year-old former University of South Florida student has been charged with the murders of two Bangladeshi doctoral students who disappeared earlier this month, with one victim’s remains found on a Tampa bridge and the other still missing. Hisham Abugharbieh, a former student at the University of South Florida (USF), faces two counts of premeditated first-degree murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both PhD students from Bangladesh. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the charges Saturday after Limon’s remains were discovered Friday morning on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Bristy remains missing, and the investigation is ongoing.
Abugharbieh appeared in court Saturday and was ordered held without bond. His next hearing is scheduled for April 28 in Tampa. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or the circumstances leading to the alleged crimes.
Victims Identified as Promising Scholars
Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were pursuing doctoral degrees at USF, part of a growing community of international students at the university. Both were reported missing earlier this month, sparking a search that ended tragically with the discovery of Limon’s remains.
The Bangladeshi community in Tampa and at USF has expressed shock and grief over the deaths. Limon and Bristy were described as dedicated students who had traveled to the U.S. to further their education. Friends and faculty remembered them as bright and ambitious, with promising academic futures.