2 Missing, 1 Dead, 1 Charged: Bangladeshi Students' Murder At US University Takes Turn

Last Updated:April 25, 2026, 22:08 IST

Police have taken 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh into custody, a former USF student who earlier shared an apartment with Limon.

What began as a missing persons case at the University of South Florida has turned into a murder investigation, with a former student now facing charges after one of the missing doctoral students was found dead while another remains untraced.

Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old Bangladeshi doctoral students, were reported missing on April 17 after a family friend was unable to reach them. They were last seen a day earlier near the university campus in Tampa, according to a report by CNN.

Investigators said Limon was last seen around 9 am at his off-campus residence, located a few blocks from the university. Bristy was spotted roughly an hour later. Concern grew when both could not be contacted the following day, leading to a report being filed with campus police.

Days later, Limon’s body was recovered from the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. The search for Bristy is still underway.

Police have arrested 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, a former USF student who had previously shared a flat with Limon. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.

Authorities said Abugharbieh initially cooperated with investigators but later stopped responding during questioning. He was taken into custody on Friday after barricading himself inside a house, prompting a police operation involving a SWAT team and crisis negotiators. He later surrendered.

Officials said they have linked him to Limon’s death and are continuing efforts to trace Bristy. In addition to the murder charges, Abugharbieh also faces allegations of tampering with evidence, unlawfully moving a body, and failing to report a death.

Court records show he had previous legal issues. He was arrested in 2023 on battery charges, which were later dropped. His brother had also sought a court order to keep him away from the family home following allegations of violence.

For the families, the uncertainty has been deeply distressing, especially with one student still missing. Limon’s brother spoke about the emotional toll of the case.

“It’s devastating for us. We are becoming numb. Anything could be possible. We just want to know the truth about what happened to them. It’s not possible that two students disappear out of nowhere," he told CNN.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to establish the sequence of events, while the families continue to wait for answers.

News world 2 Missing, 1 Dead, 1 Charged: Bangladeshi Students' Murder At US University Takes Turn

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