HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister provided a comprehensive update Friday on the investigation into the deaths of University of South Florida students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy.
The Sheriff described the actions of the suspect, 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, as “nothing short of pure evil,” revealing a timeline of premeditated violence and a calculated attempt to cover up the crimes.
According to investigators, the case began as a missing persons report when Bristy failed to show up for a thesis appointment on April 17. The following day, friends of Limon reported him missing as well.
Detectives quickly linked the two cases, focusing their investigation on the Pine Glen Circle apartment where Limon lived with two roommates, including Abugharbieh.
Sheriff Chronister revealed several key breaks in the case that led to the murder charges:
- Evidence in the Trash: Detectives searched the apartment complex’s trash compactor and recovered Limon’s bloodied clothes, wallet, student ID, and glasses.
- Forensic Evidence in the Home: Using “Blue Star” technology, investigators found a large pool of blood in the kitchen and a trail leading to Abugharbieh’s bedroom. The technology was so precise it revealed a blood-stained outline of a human body on the floor next to the suspect’s bed.
- Disturbing Digital Trail: Despite Abugharbieh wiping his phone, a forensic “deep dive” recovered search queries conducted days before the disappearance. These included “can a knife penetrate a skull,” “can a neighbor hear a gunshot,” and “can you bury a body in a trash bag and throw it in a dumpster.”
- Purchases: Records showed the suspect purchased contractor bags, duct tape, Lysol wipes, and lighter fluid via Amazon and DoorDash in the days leading up to the murders.
Chronister also detailed the grim recovery of the victims. Limon’s body was found in a heavy-duty trash bag on the shoulder of the road in Pinellas County. The Sheriff noted the body had been bound and partially dismembered to fit into the bag.
Bristy’s remains were found several days later by recreational kayakers, hidden in the mangroves on the Pinellas side of the bay. Her identity was confirmed through DNA and dental records due to advanced decomposition.
READ: Chilling ChatGPT Queries Allegedly Linked To Deaths Of Two USF Doctoral Students
The motive for the killings remains unknown.
While the suspect initially claimed the victims were in a romantic relationship and had run away, investigators dispelled those theories. The Sheriff noted that Abugharbieh remained “callous” and “non-reactive” during questioning.
The USF community is working with the Bangladeshi Embassy to return both students to their families for burial. Sheriff Chronister emphasized the “grit and determination” of the multi-agency task force, including the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the USF Police Department, in bringing the investigation to this point.
Additional charges may be forthcoming as detectives continue to process subpoenas and digital records.
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