Prosecutors have revealed new evidence in the killing of a Florida doctoral student whose body was found last week on a Tampa Bay bridge, including a timeline of events surrounding the death of Zamil Limon and the disappearance of his close friend, postgraduate student Nahida Bristy.
Hisham Abugharbieh, Limon’s roommate, has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of the students, both 27. They are due in court for a status hearing, according to court documents.
The court documents indicate that Abugharbieh, 26, will appear in court Tuesday. Investigators are seeking dashcam video from anyone who drove on the Howard Frankland Bridge on April 17 between 1 and 5 a.m.
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Limon, a student from Bangladesh at the University of South Florida in Tampa, was killed by “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to a document filed Saturday in Hillsborough County Court. The university is a major institution in the area.
Prosecutors have asked for Abugharbieh to stay in jail pending trial because of the gruesome nature of the alleged crimes. The allegations against Abugharbieh include unlawful actions such as unlawfully moving a dead body and tampering with physical evidence.
Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT a series of questions – including about putting a human body in a dumpster – in the days before Limon and Bristy vanished. He also ordered items from Amazon that could be used to conceal evidence, such as duct tape and trash bags.
Abugharbieh told Hillsborough County sheriff’s detectives he had not seen the pair that day, but later changed his story when confronted with evidence. The detectives noted inconsistencies in his statement, including a wound on his left pinky finger.
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During the investigation, it was discovered that Abugharbieh’s phone data shows he made two separate trips to the Howard Frankland Bridge in the early morning hours of April 17. The data also revealed a DoorDash order placed from Abugharbieh’s phone for items from a CVS on East Fowler Avenue.
Items recovered from the dumpster tested positive for blood, and later lab testing linked profiles developed from a gray shirt to Limon and the floor mat to Bristy. The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office is representing Abugharbieh, who faces multiple charges, including false imprisonment and battery.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement, “This is a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution.” The sheriff’s statement reflects the seriousness of the allegations against Abugharbieh, who was arrested at a home in Lutz, Florida.
