SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The man accused in the deaths of two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh pleaded not guilty through his attorneys during an arraignment in Hillsborough County court.
Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh’s appearance was waived. His attorneys entered not guilty pleas on his behalf and waived his right to a speedy trial.
The next hearing in the case is a status hearing set for 9 a.m. Dec. 10.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Nov. 3, 2027. The judge said the trial date is flexible and likely to change because the defense has another death penalty case scheduled that week.
Abugharbieh faces two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon, according to a Hillsborough County arrest warrant filed in April.
The charges stem from the deaths of 27-year-old Zamil Limon and 27-year-old Nahida Bristy, two doctoral students from Bangladesh who were reported missing April 17.
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According to the warrant affidavit, Limon’s body was found in black utility trash bags near the Howard Frankland Bridge area and later identified through latent print comparisons. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by multiple sharp force injuries.
Investigators said human remains found by a fishing captain near the area where Limon’s body was recovered were later determined to belong to Bristy.
The affidavit said Bristy’s blood was identified on evidence recovered during the investigation. Investigators wrote that no evidence had been found to support any probability that she remained alive.
Court records described what investigators called signs of planning and cleanup before and after the killings, including alleged ChatGPT searches about disposing of a body, changing a vehicle identification number and keeping a gun at home without a license.
Abugharbieh’s case is scheduled to return to court Dec. 10.
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