A man identified as Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and death of a University of South Florida (USF) doctoral student, escalating a case that began as a missing persons report into a broader criminal investigation.
Arrest and Charges
Abugharbieh, 26, was taken into custody in Tampa after police responded to a domestic violence call at a residence linked to him. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, he initially barricaded himself inside the home before surrendering to a SWAT team following a standoff. He faces preliminary charges including domestic violence battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully moving or handling a dead body.
Victims and Investigation
Authorities say Abugharbieh was the roommate of Zamil Limon, one of two students reported missing earlier this month alongside Nahida Bristy. Both were 27 years old and originally from Bangladesh. Limon’s remains were later found on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa Bay, while Bristy remains missing. The case began after a family friend reported the two students missing when they could not be contacted. Limon and Bristy were last seen on April 16 in separate locations near the USF campus.
Deputies focused on Abugharbieh after tracing links to the missing students. He is not a USF student but had been living with Limon in an off-campus apartment. Authorities have not confirmed a motive. The investigation expanded across multiple jurisdictions as detectives searched areas around Tampa and nearby counties.
Ongoing Case
Law enforcement agencies described the case as complex and ongoing. During the arrest, police activated specialized units including SWAT after Abugharbieh refused initial commands to exit the home. The charges remain preliminary, and further forensic results are expected as authorities piece together events leading up to the students’ disappearance.
