The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested and charged the husband of a woman found dead in Jordan Lake in August, saying Tuesday he is charged with first degree murder and concealment of an unnatural death.

A release from the sheriff’s office identified 34-year-old Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick as being in connection to the death of Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat, who was also 34. Drabick, who is an Apex resident and whose listed address is the same as Hikmat’s, was arrested on Tuesday morning by investigators.

Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick, 34. (Photo via the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.)

Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat, 34. (Photo via the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.)

The charges stem from August 29, when a boater in Jordan Lake found a body in the water near Farrington Point Boat Ramp at 2:30 p.m. and called the sheriff’s office. Investigators recovered the body and, within days, turned to the public for help identifying the female victim whose death was deemed to not be accidental or self-inflicted. On September 6, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said it confirmed Hikmat as the victim through fingerprint analysis.

Two days later, the sheriff’s office said it conducted searches of 736 Treviso Lane in Apex and 1916 Wescott Drive in Raleigh — both of which were addresses Hikmat was tied to.

“Our thoughts and efforts are with Ms. Hikmat’s family, and the other families who contacted us about their missing loved ones,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson on Tuesday. “These kinds of incidents are a reminder of the tragedy of domestic violence. It’s a scourge that affects far too many lives and causes immeasurable pain and suffering. We urge anyone who may be in an abusive relationship to reach out for help and support.”

In its release, the Chatham County Sheriff’s thanked fellow law enforcement agencies which helped in the case’s investigation, including the Apex Police Department, Raleigh Police Department, N.C. State University Police, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police Department, and the Sanford Police Department.

 

Photo via the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.

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