The family of Zamil Limon, a doctoral student at the University of South Florida who was tragically killed, disclosed that he had previously expressed concerns about his roommate, now accused of his murder and the disappearance of his girlfriend. They are calling for the harshest penalties for the alleged perpetrator.
“He barely [knew] Hisham Abugharbieh, but he always informed us that his roommate is kind of unsocial, unpleasant and sort of psychopathic behavior,” said Limon’s brother, Zubaer Ahmed, in an interview with KLFY 10 News.
Ahmed noted that tensions in their off-campus residence, part of Avalon Heights, had escalated to the point where Limon and another roommate, Rashid, lodged a formal complaint against Abugharbieh.
Ahmed expressed disappointment that Avalon Heights did not address the complaint adequately. “It’s very unfortunate or unbelievable that Avalon Heights didn’t consider it seriously or [take] necessary steps,” he said.
Abugharbieh, 26, is facing two first-degree murder charges for allegedly killing Limon and his girlfriend, Nahida Bristy, both aged 27, earlier this month.
Limon’s body was discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge, which connects St. Petersburg to Tampa, while Bristy remains missing and is presumed dead.
“I miss everything about him: his smile, his anger, his fight with me,” Limon’s brother continued. “I remember everything. Yeah. I just wanted to know that he is very hardworking, kind and full of dreams.”
The families of the victims, who were both Bangladeshi students pursuing doctorate degrees at USF with plans to marry, are advocating for Abugharbieh to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“We demand the highest possible punishment under the law for Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, along with anyone else who may be connected, and request that the legal process move forward as quickly as possible,” stated their joint statement on Monday, as reported by KLFY 10.
The families are also urging legal action against Avalon Heights, citing inadequate CCTV and security measures. They criticized the housing complex for pairing Limon with Abugharbieh without proper background checks.
Avalon Heights has not responded to requests for comment.
The bereaved relatives, based in Bangladesh, are requesting that Limon and Bristy’s remains be treated according to Islamic funeral traditions and that their personal belongings be returned.
The families have asked for the university’s support in fulfilling these wishes and in creating a memorial at USF to honor Limon and Bristy, with the aim of preventing similar tragedies.
Prosecutors have not yet disclosed a motive in their case against Abugharbieh, who reportedly consulted ChatGPT about disposing of bodies, altering a car’s VIN number, and firearm licensing around the time of the couple’s disappearance on April 13.
Abugharbieh was apprehended on Friday after police responded to an unrelated domestic violence call at a Tampa home. He barricaded himself inside, refusing to cooperate for over an hour, before eventually surrendering to authorities while covered only in a blue towel.
Investigators discovered blood evidence inside the home of Abugharbieh and Limon, and determined that Limon suffered multiple sharp force injuries. Limon’s wallet was later found in a trash compactor, along with glasses and a pink iPhone case belonging to Bristy.
Abugharbieh is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
In addition to the murder charges, he is also charged with unlawfully holding or moving a dead body in unapproved conditions, failure to report death, tampering with physical evidence, false imprisonment, and battery.
