USF murder suspect denied bond after arrest in killings of two Bangladeshi doctoral students, court rules
A man accused of killing two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh will remain in jail without bond after a judge ordered him held pending trial during a brief court hearing Tuesday in Tampa.
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, is also barred from contacting witnesses or the victims’ families under the judge’s order. He faces two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon and could face the death penalty if convicted, though prosecutors have not said whether they will pursue capital punishment.
Abugharbieh did not appear in court for the hearing. His public defender declined to comment on the case.
Authorities say Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27 and doctoral students, disappeared on April 16 after last being seen in the area where Limon shared an off-campus apartment with Abugharbieh and another roommate. A relative said the couple had been considering marriage.
Investigators later used cellphone location data and license plate readers to trace Abugharbieh’s vehicle and Limon’s phone to a bridge where Limon’s body was discovered Friday morning. Prosecutors say Limon had multiple stab wounds and appeared to have been restrained.
Search efforts for Bristy continued, and officials later reported a body was found in a nearby waterway. That body had not been formally identified as of Tuesday, and an autopsy was still pending.
Court records state that when detectives initially questioned Abugharbieh and another roommate, investigators noticed his finger was bandaged. He denied any involvement in the disappearances.
According to the prosecution’s detention filing, a roommate told investigators that Abugharbieh was seen using a cart overnight on April 16 to move cardboard boxes to a trash compactor. Investigators later found Limon’s wallet, ID, credit card, eyeglasses, and clothing that appeared to have bloodstains inside the compactor area.
A subsequent search of the apartment under warrant allegedly uncovered blood traces leading from the kitchen to Abugharbieh’s bedroom, along with heavy blood staining on his carpet. Investigators also found Bristy’s ID and credit cards in Limon’s room.
Prosecutors further allege that days before the students disappeared, Abugharbieh used an artificial intelligence chatbot to ask what would happen if a human body were placed in a garbage bag and thrown away. The response reportedly warned the question sounded dangerous.
State officials have said they are expanding an ongoing review into the use of artificial intelligence in criminal cases to include this investigation. The company behind the chatbot said it is reviewing the reports and will cooperate with law enforcement.
Officials continue to investigate the case as the remains found near the bridge await identification.
Comments
Post a Comment