USF Student Killings: Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Hisham Abugharbieh
Florida prosecutors announced on Friday that they will seek the death penalty for Hisham Abugharbieh, the man accused of killing two University of South Florida students from Bangladesh.
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office said it filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Abugharbieh, citing several aggravating factors, including that “the homicides were committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner” and “the crimes were especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.” Abugharbieh, 26, is accused of stabbing Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, both 27, to death before disposing of their bodies in trash bags.
Abugharbieh and Limon were roommates. Abugharbieh was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and several other charges on Thursday.
“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. We stand with them in their grief, and we will not stop seeking justice for Nahida and Zamil," State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement.
Bristy was reported missing on April 17, and Limon was reported missing on April 18, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a press conference last week. Chronister said officials spoke to Limon’s two roommates following his disappearance.
“One roommate continues to be elusive. The stories are inconsistent,” he said.
The sheriff said the other roommate was “extremely cooperative,” and officials determined that he was not involved.
Chronister said Abugharbieh had a laceration on his left pinky and a deep laceration on the back of his left tricep. The sheriff said Abugharbieh was “unable to explain” where he got the injuries, and officials believe they are “defensive wounds.”
The sheriff said surveillance video showed Abugharbieh exiting his car for a short amount of time on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Limon’s body was found in a trash bag on the bridge.
Chronister said content on Abugharbieh's phone had been erased, but a forensic examination revealed “disturbing” searches in the days before Bristy and Limon went missing. The searches included phrases like "Can a knife penetrate a skull?" and "Can a neighbor hear a gunshot?"
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 4:43 PM.