A newly obtained police report details concerning domestic incidents involving Hisham Abugharbieh three years before he was accused of murdering two doctoral students at the University of South Florida (USF).
2023 Domestic Incident Details
According to the police report, the incident occurred on May 9, 2023. During this altercation, Abugharbieh reportedly engaged in physical confrontations with his family members:
- He argued with his brother regarding his "erratic behavior."
- The report alleges that Abugharbieh punched his brother, causing him to fall.
- Furthermore, he allegedly kicked his mother in the back, causing her to fall.
Following the 2023 incident, Abugharbieh was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery and placed under the Baker Act, a Florida law allowing for temporary holds on individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Current Charges and Allegations
Abugharbieh currently faces two counts of first-degree murder related to the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old USF students originally from Bangladesh. The students were last seen nearly two weeks prior to the initial reports.
Prosecutors have presented several concerning allegations regarding the period before the students disappeared:
- AI Interaction: Prosecutors allege Abugharbieh queried ChatGPT with questions, including one concerning the disposal of a human body in a dumpster.
- Purchases: In the week before the students vanished, he reportedly ordered items such as duct tape, trash bags, lighter fuel, fire starter, and charcoal from Amazon.
- Other Evidence: Financial records cited in a criminal affidavit also showed a fake beard being shipped from Amazon on April 15.
Family Concerns and Court Testimony
During the 2023 incident, Abugharbieh made statements to police, including, "I created my brother. I am his god," and "This is my first life here."
- Deterioration of Behavior: A family relative submitted a victim impact letter stating that Abugharbieh's behavior worsened after he began using medical marijuana.
- Witness Account: The relative noted a significant change, stating, "Hisham used to be a cool guy. A supportive and helpful eldest son," contrasting this with his current "hurtful behavior and anger problems."
- Legal Outcome (2023): While the initial battery charges were later dropped, a judge issued an injunction prohibiting Abugharbieh from approaching his brother or his home through May 2025.
As of the reporting, Abugharbieh, now 26, appeared in court via video to face the murder charges.
