ORLANDO, Fla. — A recently released police report reveals troubling details about the mental state of a man now facing murder charges in the deaths of two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh.
Family members described a dramatic deterioration in Hisham Abugharbieh’s behavior following his marijuana use, according to documents from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released Wednesday. The report stems from a May 2023 incident where Abugharbieh struck his brother in the face and kicked his mother in the back.
During that arrest three years ago, Abugharbieh displayed signs of severe mental distress, making statements such as “I am son of Mary” and “I created my brother. I am his god.” Authorities placed him under Florida’s Baker Act, which permits emergency mental health evaluations lasting up to 72 hours.
“HIsham used to be a cool guy, a supportive and helpful eldest son, until he started smoking cannabis, especially medical marijuana,” a relative whose name was redacted wrote in a victim impact statement more than a week after Abugharbieh’s May 2023 arrest. “It turned him mentally ill, with hurtful behavior and anger problems which is affecting the family life. We lost Hisham as a normal family member.”
When questioned by law enforcement during the 2023 incident, Abugharbieh claimed he acted defensively because his brother had threatened him. His family chose not to pursue criminal charges but requested substance abuse treatment instead. He subsequently participated in a first-time offender diversion program.
The 26-year-old now faces two first-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of the USF students. He remains in custody without bail.
Investigators discovered the body of Abugharbieh’s roommate, Zamil Limon, in a trash bag on the Howard Frankland bridge last Friday. Authorities announced Sunday that another body was recovered from waters near the bridge, though the medical examiner has not officially identified it as Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy.
Both victims vanished on April 16. Limon was last observed at the off-campus housing complex he shared with Abugharbieh, while Bristy was last seen at a university science facility. Limon pursued studies in geography, environmental science and policy, while Bristy focused on chemical engineering.
Jennifer Spradley, a public defender representing Abugharbieh in Tampa, declined to provide comment when contacted earlier this week.
