Killings of Bangladeshi students in US: Timeline of events revealed by investigators

Prosecutors outline disturbing details as suspect faces double murder charges

Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. Photos: Facebook

Investigators in Florida have outlined a chilling sequence of events in the alleged killings of two Bangladeshi doctoral students, as the suspect faces multiple charges. 

According to a report by CNN, authorities have detailed a timeline describing how the victims disappeared and were allegedly killed.

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, Limon’s roommate, has been charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon. A judge ruled on Tuesday that he will remain in detention pending trial.

In a motion filed last week, prosecutors laid out a detailed account of the events leading up to and following the students’ disappearance, including the suspect’s alleged actions and movements.

April 7 & 11: Amazon purchases

Abugharbieh allegedly purchased items from Amazon, including duct tape, trash bags, lighter fuel and fire starter, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

April 13: A ChatGPT conversation

Prosecutors cited a ChatGPT conversation in which Abugharbieh allegedly asked, “What happens if a human has a put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster,” to which the chatbot responded that it sounded dangerous.

“How would they find out,” he reportedly replied.

April 16: Last contact with the two students

Friends were in contact with Limon and Bristy during the day but later could not reach them, according to a motion filed in Hillsborough County Court. The two spoke briefly on the phone several times.

Around midday, Bristy was seen on surveillance footage walking on the university campus. However, she failed to attend a planned evening meeting with a friend to collect her eyeglasses and did not respond to calls.

Location data showed Limon near his home and campus before travelling to Clearwater, about 32 miles away, at around 7:43pm. Abugharbieh’s white Hyundai Genesis G80 was seen in the same area roughly 10 minutes later, prosecutors said.

Phone and traffic data indicated similarities between the suspect’s and Limon’s device locations throughout the night.

At about 10:30pm, a DoorDash order for trash bags, Lysol wipes, Febreze and other items from CVS was placed using Abugharbieh’s phone and delivered about 30 minutes later.

Another roommate reportedly saw Abugharbieh using a cart to move cardboard boxes from his room to a compactor dumpster at their apartment complex.

April 17: Students reported missing

A ChatGPT search on the suspect’s phone asked, “are cars checked at the Hillsborough River state park,” the affidavit said.

Image A missing persons flyer for two University of South Florida students released by the Hillsborough Co. Sheriff Office Hillsborough Co. Sheriff Office. Photo: CNN

Authorities said Abugharbieh travelled twice to the Howard Frankland Bridge, part of Interstate 275 spanning Tampa Bay, between 1:00am and 4:30am.

Meanwhile, Limon and Bristy were officially reported missing. The following day, police searched Bristy’s campus workplace and found personal belongings, including her lunchbox, MacBook and iPad.

us to “endangered”.

Image The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Marine and Dive teams searching for missing University of South Florida doctoral student Nahida Bristy near the Howard Frankland Bridge in Florida. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Photo: CNN

A search of a dumpster uncovered a black cushion floor mat with blood, Limon’s wallet, Bristy’s phone case, Limon’s glasses and blood-stained clothing.

Around this time, Abugharbieh allowed authorities to search his car, which prosecutors said appeared to have been “recently been cleaned”. He also granted access to vehicle data, though none appeared available.

Investigators said he gave inconsistent statements about when he last saw the victims. Initially, he claimed they had never been in his vehicle and denied travelling to Clearwater. When confronted, he said he went there to look for fishing spots, later changing his account again to say he drove Limon and his girlfriend there.

During questioning, officers observed a bandaged wound on his left pinky finger, which he said was from cutting onions. Detectives also noted a fresh cut on his left upper arm and additional injuries on both legs.

Prosecutors added that on April 23 he searched on ChatGPT: “What does missing endangered adult mean.”

April 24: Limon’s body found, suspect arrested

Detectives searching near the Howard Frankland Bridge recovered a black trash bag at a location linked to the suspect’s phone data.

Image This still from a video released by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows the moment the suspect was arrested in connection to the disappearance of two USF students. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Photo: CNN

Prosecutors said the bag resembled those found under Abugharbieh’s bed. Inside were human remains later identified as Limon.

His death was ruled a homicide, with a medical examiner citing multiple sharp force injuries, including a deep stab wound to the lower back that penetrated the liver.

Abugharbieh was arrested hours later at a home in Lutz, Florida, after police responded to a domestic violence incident involving a family member.

April 25: Court appearance and evidence detailed

Prosecutors formally filed the pretrial motion, outlining the alleged purchases and ChatGPT interactions.

Image Hisham Abugharbieh appears in court via video on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. WFTS-TV/AP. Photo: CNN

Abugharbieh appeared in court and now faces additional charges, including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death with intent to conceal, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery.

The Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, appointed to represent him, declined to comment in detail, stating, “We remain focused on representing our client through the legal process.”

April 26: Human remains recovered

Deputies recovered human remains from waterways near the Howard Frankland Bridge and are working to identify them.

April 27: Killings linked to probe into OpenAI

Florida authorities expanded a criminal investigation into OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to include the killings.

“This is a terrible crime, and our thoughts are with everyone affected,” OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said. “We’re looking into these reports and will do whatever we can to support law enforcement in their investigation.”

Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state is examining whether ChatGPT played a role in assisting criminal acts and whether OpenAI bears any responsibility.

April 28: Suspect held without bond

A court hearing determined the next steps in the case. Hillsborough County Judge J Logan Murphy granted prosecutors’ request to hold Abugharbieh without bond on the murder charges.

The suspect did not appear at the hearing. An arraignment date has yet to be set.

Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27 and originally from Bangladesh, were last seen nearly two weeks ago in Tampa. Limon’s body was discovered about a week later, while investigators believe Bristy was also killed, though her body has yet to be found.

LATEST INFORMATION: Discovery of Nahida Bristy Shifts Investigation Focus — 5-Inch Trail on the Ground Suggests Movement, Now Cross-Referenced with Evidence from Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh’s Home

Tampa Bay authorities say the recovery of human remains believed to be those of 27-year-old Nahida Sultana Bristy has prompted a significant shift in the direction of the double homicide investigation involving her and fellow University of South Florida (USF) doctoral student Zamil Limon. Investigators noted a 5-inch trail on the ground consistent with movement or dragging tracks near the recovery site south of the Howard Frankland Bridge. This physical evidence is now being meticulously examined alongside items and forensic findings gathered from the apartment home shared by Limon and suspect Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh.

The development adds a new layer of physical reconstruction to a case already built on substantial blood evidence, digital records, and location data.

The Discovery and the 5-Inch Trail

Remains believed to be Bristy’s were recovered on April 26 in Pinellas County waters near Interstate 275 and 4th Street North on the St. Petersburg side of the Howard Frankland Bridge — the same general area where Limon’s remains were found two days earlier. The body was dressed in clothing matching surveillance video and witness descriptions of what Bristy wore when last seen leaving her USF office building around 10:03 a.m. on April 16, 2026.

During documentation of the scene, detectives documented a narrow 5-inch trail on the ground that appears consistent with movement tracks — possibly indicating that the body or a heavy object was dragged or shifted shortly before or during disposal into the waterway. Such trails can result from deliberate human action, tidal influences interacting with the shoreline, or post-incident handling. Forensic teams are analyzing the trail’s depth, direction, soil displacement, and any trace materials (fibers, footprints, or biological evidence) to determine its origin and timing.

This detail has reportedly shifted investigative emphasis toward reconstructing the final movements at or near the bridge area, rather than solely focusing on the apartment crime scene.

Suggested image placement: A neutral illustrative map of the Tampa Bay / Howard Frankland Bridge area, marking the recovery locations for Limon (April 24) and the remains believed to be Bristy (April 26). Include a subtle line annotation representing the approximate 5-inch trail for spatial context, alongside previous search zones.

Cross-Referencing with Evidence from Abugharbieh’s Home

Investigators are now comparing the trail and other scene details with extensive evidence collected from the apartment shared by Limon and 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh. Court documents previously detailed significant blood evidence linked to both victims throughout the residence, Bristy’s personal items (including her USF ID, credit cards, purse, and umbrella) found in Limon’s bedroom, and signs of cleaning attempts.

Abugharbieh faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of both students. Prosecutors allege he attacked the victims inside the apartment, used items such as black trash bags for disposal, and made deliberate efforts to conceal the crimes. Digital evidence includes alleged queries to an AI tool (such as ChatGPT) about body disposal methods and guns in the days surrounding the disappearances. Cellphone pings, license plate readers, and surveillance have reportedly placed Abugharbieh near the bridge area in the early morning hours after April 16.

The 5-inch trail could help establish whether bodies were transported from a vehicle to the water’s edge, potentially linking drag patterns, shoe impressions, or transferred trace evidence back to items or clothing seized from the apartment. Previous scene notes — including a 4-inch tear on a sleeve, a second clothing item separated by about 11 feet, one shoe roughly 18 feet away, and a small object 7 feet from the remains — are being integrated into this broader movement analysis.

Suggested image: Respectful portrait-style renderings of Nahida Sultana Bristy and Zamil Ahamed Limon, both 27-year-old doctoral students from Bangladesh (Bristy studying chemical engineering, Limon in geography and environmental science). They were reportedly close friends considering marriage. Pair with a sensitive, non-graphic depiction of law enforcement personnel conducting evidence collection near a shoreline or bridge to represent the ongoing forensic work.

Timeline and Case Background

April 16, 2026: Bristy captured on USF surveillance leaving her building. Both students believed to have been at the apartment that evening.
April 24: Limon’s remains recovered near the Howard Frankland Bridge, showing signs of violent trauma and found in or near black trash bags.
April 26: Remains believed to be Bristy recovered in matching clothing after expanded searches covering over six square miles.
Ongoing: Abugharbieh arrested and held without bond. He has been charged with premeditated murder for both victims, plus related counts involving evidence tampering and unlawful handling of human remains.

The discovery of Bristy’s remains has allowed investigators to move from a missing persons/search phase to a more complete homicide reconstruction, with the ground trail providing potential physical corroboration for how the bodies were transported from the apartment to the disposal site.

Impact on the USF Community and Families

The double tragedy has deeply shaken the University of South Florida, particularly its international graduate student population. Both victims were promising scholars pursuing advanced degrees. USF has provided counseling resources and issued statements expressing profound sorrow for the loss of two dedicated members of its academic community.

Bristy’s family in Bangladesh was reportedly informed by investigators of the strong likelihood of her death based on the volume of blood evidence found in the apartment. The latest forensic details, including the movement trail, are expected to bring further clarity as the case advances toward trial.

Abugharbieh remains in custody without bond as forensic analysis continues on the trail, clothing damage, dispersed items, digital records, and apartment evidence.

Suggested image: Clean timeline graphic outlining key dates from April 16 (last seen) through the recoveries on April 24 and 26, and the current focus on the 5-inch trail and apartment evidence linkage.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Forensic experts will continue processing the 5-inch trail for trace evidence that might match materials or patterns from the apartment. Full autopsy results, DNA confirmation of the remains, and additional digital forensics are anticipated to strengthen the prosecution’s case regarding premeditation and the sequence of events.

The shift prompted by Bristy’s discovery underscores how new physical evidence at the recovery site can redirect focus even in cases with strong apartment-based forensics. Authorities continue to appeal for any dashcam footage, witness sightings, or additional information from the Howard Frankland Bridge area in the hours following April 16.