Investigators reveal two USF students' killings unfolding details

Two University of South Florida doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, disappeared nearly two weeks before their bodies were found in Tampa. Their deaths, which authorities describe as “grisly,” are now the focus of a murder trial against their roommate, Hisham Abugharbieh, 26. Prosecutors say Abugharbieh’s actions before and after the killings paint a chilling picture of premeditation.

Limon’s body was discovered a week after the pair vanished. Bristy’s remains, heavily decomposed, were found two days later. Both were 27 and originally from Bangladesh. Abugharbieh, charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, remains in detention as his trial approaches. A judge ruled against releasing him pending trial, citing the seriousness of the charges.

Prosecutors’ motion to keep Abugharbieh jailed outlines a timeline of events. It includes details from his Amazon purchases—duct tape, trash bags, lighter fuel, and fire starter—which he later asked ChatGPT about. In one exchange, Abugharbieh asked, “What happens if a human has put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster,” to which the chatbot replied, “That sounds dangerous.”

Friends of the victims say they were in contact with Limon and Bristy during the day but couldn’t reach them later. Surveillance footage shows Bristy on campus around midday but missing a planned meetup with a friend that evening. Limon’s phone data places him near his home and campus before heading to Clearwater, 32 miles away, around 7:43 p.m.

Within 10 minutes of Limon’s movements, Abugharbieh’s white Hyundai Genesis G80 was spotted in the same area. Phone and traffic data link the suspect’s device to Limon’s location throughout the night. Around 10:30 p.m., a DoorDash order for trash bags, Lysol wipes, and Febreze was placed from Abugharbieh’s phone and delivered to his apartment.

Other roommates reported seeing Abugharbieh move cardboard boxes to a compactor dumpster. A ChatGPT search on his phone asked, “Are cars checked at the Hillsborough River state park,” according to the affidavit. Between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., Abugharbieh traveled twice to the Howard Frankland Bridge, a stretch of I-275 over Tampa Bay.

The next day, police searched Bristy’s campus workplace and found her lunchbox, MacBook, and iPad left behind. Her disappearance was officially reported as “endangered.” Abugharbieh’s mother told investigators she last saw him April 18 and mentioned his history of anger issues and past violence. Court records show he was arrested twice in 2023 for battery, though charges were later dropped.

Authorities later searched a dumpster and found a black cushion floor mat with blood, Limon’s wallet, Bristy’s phone case, and clothing stained with blood. Abugharbieh allowed police to search his car, which prosecutors said appeared “recently cleaned.” However, no data was found on the vehicle’s system.

Abugharbieh gave conflicting accounts of when he last saw Limon and Bristy. Initially, he claimed they never entered his vehicle. When confronted about his presence in Clearwater, he shifted his story, saying Limon had asked to be driven there with his girlfriend. Detectives also noted a bandaged left pinky finger and fresh cuts on his arm and legs, which Abugharbieh attributed to cutting onions.

On April 23, prosecutors say Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT, “What does missing endangered adult mean.” Detectives later found a black trash bag on the Howard Frankland Bridge, matching those under Abugharbieh’s bed. Inside was Limon’s body, identified through DNA. His death was ruled a homicide with “multiple sharp force injuries,” including a deep stab wound to his liver.

Abugharbieh was arrested later that day after law enforcement responded to a domestic violence incident involving a family member. Prosecutors argue his Amazon purchases and ChatGPT conversations are key evidence. He now faces additional charges, including unlawfully moving a dead body, tampering with evidence, and false imprisonment.

The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office has been appointed to the case but declined to comment, citing Abugharbieh’s right to a fair trial. Meanwhile, Bristy’s body was found in a second black trash bag on the shoreline south of Limon’s discovery site. The investigation continues as the legal process unfolds.