Authorities have confirmed that a woman whose body was discovered by a fisherman in a North Carolina lake last year died from a gunshot wound. The body of Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikma, 34, was found floating in Jordan Lake on August 29 in Chatham County, N.C., according to reports from The News & Observer, and Queen City News.
In September, her husband, Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death, as reported by Queen City News and CBS 17, citing an arrest affidavit. He was also charged with concealment of an unnatural death, according to the affidavit.
Nearly a year after her body was discovered, the medical examiner’s office has ruled that Hikma died from a gunshot wound to the back, as reported by ABC 11. The manner of her death has been classified as a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office, as cited by ABC 11. The medical examiner also suggested that Hikma may have been injured on a bridge about 700 yards from where her body was found, as reported by CBS 17.
Evidence collected from the bridge included blood splatter, a gun shell casing, and jewelry, according to the medical examiner’s ruling. Initially, authorities were unsure if Hikma had died from a gunshot wound or from drowning, as reported by ABC 11.
“While it is possible that drowning may have played a role in this death, there were no overt signs of such at autopsy,” the medical examiner’s report reads in part. The report further adds, “The severity of the gunshot wound injuries makes it likely that she would have died prior to submersion having a chance to significantly contribute.
Online court records do not indicate if Drabick has entered pleas to the charges against him. As the investigation continues, the case underscores the tragic and violent circumstances surrounding Hikma’s death and the ongoing efforts to seek justice for her.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.