The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty against the suspect in the killings of 27-year-old University of South Florida doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy.
This comes a day after a grand jury indicted 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh on seven charges, including:
- Two counts of murder in the first degree with a weapon (premeditated)
- One count of tampering with physical evidence relating to a capital felony
- Two counts of unlawfully holding or moving a dead human body in unapproved conditions
- Two counts of failure to report death to medical examiner or law enforcement (intent to conceal)
These are all felonies. In Florida, a grand jury indictment is required for first-degree murder cases, as it is a capital felony.
Limon and Bristy disappeared on April 16. They were from Bangladesh but were attending USF on student visas. Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, and Bristy was studying chemical engineering.
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Abugharbieh was Limon's off-campus roommate.
An affidavit says Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT about body disposal and bought items like black trash bags before Limon and Bristy were reported missing. Investigators allege he fatally stabbed the couple, cleaned up the scene and concealed their bodies before disposing of them.
Limon was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge and Bristy was discovered a few days later in the water near Interstate 275 and Fourth Street North in St. Petersburg in late April.
Abugharbieh was arrested and is at the Hillsborough County Jail, being held without bond. He has an arraignment hearing on May 18 at 9 a.m.
According to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts, this is where Abugharbieh will be advised of the formal charges against him and is allowed to enter a plea. A pre-trial date or possibly a trial date could be set as well.
According to the Hillsborough County State's Attorney's Office, prosecutors identified necessary factors under Florida law to seek the death penalty.
"The aggravating factors in this case include: the homicides were committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner; the crimes were especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel; and that the defendant committed multiple homicides during the same criminal episode," the State Attorney's Office wrote in a news release.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez said they will not stop seeking justice for Bristy and Zamil.
“This tragic case has shaken our entire community and devastated two families who live halfway across the world. These young students came to our community from Bangladesh to pursue their doctoral degrees and build brighter futures. Their lives were cut short by an unthinkable act of violence," Lopez said. "We will ask the jury to sentence the defendant to death for his crimes. These are families who sent their children across the world with hope and now they are left with an unimaginable loss."
