April 27, 2026 / 8:06 PM EDT / CBS News
The brother of Hisham Abugharbieh, the suspect in the killings of two University of South Florida doctoral students, told CBS News his family had previously warned police about Hisham’s erratic behavior.
Ahmad Abugharbieh, 22, said his older brother, 26, was quick to anger and should not have been living with roommates. “I didn’t know he had a roommate,” Ahmad said. “He should’ve lived on his own or been homeless.”
Hisham Abugharbieh faces two first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his roommate, 27-year-old Zamil Limon, and Nahida Bristy, 27. Limon’s body was found Friday, and authorities found human remains Sunday while searching for Bristy; those remains have not yet been identified. Both sets of remains were found on or near the Howard Frankland Bridge over Tampa Bay, authorities said.
Ahmad said family members called police when Hisham suddenly showed up at the family home Friday morning because “he was being very weird.” Court records show Hisham had been estranged from the family since 2023.
An arrest report says Hisham’s younger sister found him in the living room wearing only a towel and playing video games; he then approached her and “was attempting to kiss the victim,” the report states, and she was able to push him away. Deputies later took Hisham into custody after he came out of the home with his hands raised while still wearing only a towel. He is being held without bond and is due in court Tuesday.
Ahmad offered condolences to the victims’ families: “I just can’t stop thinking about all of them. … I’m just, I just feel so awful. I’m really sorry about everything. I feel so, my entire family feels so much shame and guilt.” He added, “We tried to warn police in the past.”
The family filed two protective orders against Hisham: one in 2023 that was granted and another in 2025 that was denied, according to court records. The 2025 request was denied because related battery criminal charges were not pursued. Ahmad said he declined to pursue battery charges in 2023 because of financial concerns and later regretted that decision.
In the 2023 protective order, Ahmad wrote that Hisham “repeatedly punched me in the head, he ripped my shirt and made me bleed and gave me a few bruises on my face. I went outside to call the cops. He tried to escape by using the family minivan but came back after realizing it wouldn’t work.” Ahmad also alleged Hisham once “tore up the entire living room after a short argument with my mom” and that Hisham “would start screaming in the middle of the night about how he is God and we should all bow down to him.”
A spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, representing Hisham, said the office must refrain from public comment to protect the client’s right to a fair trial. The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office did not comment on Ahmad’s remarks but wrote on Facebook that Hisham “remains a danger to our community and should be held without bond until trial,” and said their “hearts are with both students’ families” as they await answers. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to CBS News’ request for comment.