The brother of Hisham Abugharbieh, the man accused of killing two University of South Florida doctoral students in Tampa, says his family had tried for years to warn authorities about his brother's increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior.
Background
Zamil Limon, 27, and Nahida Bristy, also 27, were both doctoral students at the University of South Florida. They were last seen in the Tampa area on April 16, according to the University of South Florida Police Department. Their bodies were discovered days later on and near the Howard Frankland Bridge, which spans a portion of Tampa Bay connecting the Tampa Bay area.
Limon was found Friday. Authorities discovered human remains Sunday while searching for Bristy, though those remains have not yet been formally identified.
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with their deaths. He is being held without bond and is due to appear in court.
According to court records, Hisham Abugharbieh had been estranged from his family since 2023. His younger brother, Ahmad Abugharbieh, 22, told CBS News that the suspect was quick to anger and should not have been living with roommates.
"I didn't know he had a roommate," Ahmad said. "He should've lived on his own or been homeless."
The Investigation
Ahmad Abugharbieh said he was among family members who called police to their home after Hisham suddenly showed up Friday morning in what Ahmad described as very strange behavior.
"He was being very weird, so I called them to get him out," Ahmad told CBS News.
According to an arrest report, Hisham's younger sister confronted him after finding him in the living room playing video games while wearing only a towel. When she approached him, "The defendant was attempting to kiss the victim," the report states. "The victim was able to push away."
Hisham Abugharbieh was taken into custody in dramatic fashion on Friday. He emerged with his hands raised, still wearing only a towel, and was confronted by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies who took him into custody.
A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, which is representing Hisham Abugharbieh, said: "While we understand the attention surrounding the case, our ethical obligations and our client's right to a fair trial require that we refrain from public comment. We remain focused on representing our client through the legal process."
The family had filed two protective orders against Hisham Abugharbieh over the years—one granted in 2023 and another denied in 2025, according to court records.
"We tried to warn police in the past," Ahmad said.
In the granted 2023 protective order, a copy of which was obtained by CBS News, Ahmad wrote that his brother "repeatedly punched me in the head, he ripped my shirt and made me bleed and gave me a few bruises on my face. I went outside to call the cops. He tried to escape by using the family minivan but came back after realizing it wouldn't work."
Ahmad said he declined to move forward with potential battery charges against his brother in 2023 because of financial constraints.
"I dropped them because I thought it was going to cost me a lot of money," he said. "I regretted that choice immediately after."
Key Takeaways
- Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old doctoral students at USF
- Both victims were last seen April 16; their remains were found on and near Howard Frankland Bridge spanning Tampa Bay
- The suspect's brother says the family had filed two protective orders against Hisham— one granted in 2023, another denied in 2025
- Ahmad Abugharbieh said he dropped battery charges against his brother in 2023 due to financial concerns
- Hisham Abugharbieh is being held without bond and is due in court
What's Next
Hisham Abugharbieh is scheduled to appear in Hillsborough County court. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has not responded to requests for comment on the investigation. Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Limon and Bristy.