USF Roommate Charged With Double Murder After Doctoral Students Found Dead Near Tampa Bridge

A University of South Florida student has been charged with two counts of first degree murder after the body of one doctoral student was found near the Howard Frankland Bridge and another remains missing.

USF Roommate Arrested After Standoff

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, was arrested on April 24 following a 20 minute standoff at his family's home. He has been charged with the murders of his roommate Zamil Limon, 27, and Limon's girlfriend Nahida Bristy, 27. Both victims were doctoral students at USF.

Limon was studying geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy was pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. The couple was last seen on April 16, and their disappearance triggered a massive search effort across the Tampa Bay area.

Body Found Near Howard Frankland Bridge

Limon's body was discovered on April 24 near the Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects Tampa and St. Petersburg. Bristy remains missing, and authorities are continuing their search for her.

Abugharbieh was initially hit with charges including battery, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence, failure to report a death, and unlawfully holding and moving a dead body. The first degree murder charges were added on April 25 as investigators pieced together more evidence.

USF Community in Shock

The USF community is reeling from the news. Abugharbieh had been a USF student but was not currently enrolled at the time of the alleged murders. The university has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.

According to reports, the investigation is ongoing and authorities are urging anyone with information about Bristy's whereabouts to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office immediately.

This case has sent shockwaves through the academic community, with students and faculty struggling to process how something so horrific could happen so close to campus. What do you think should happen next in this case?