On August 29, 2023, the body of 34-year-old Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat was discovered in Jordan Lake near the Farrington Point Boat Ramp in Chatham County, North Carolina. A boater spotted her floating face-down in shallow water and alerted authorities. Fingerprint analysis later confirmed her identity. An autopsy revealed that Hikmat had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the upper back, along with blunt force trauma to her head, left ankle, and forearm.
The medical examiner concluded that the gunshot wound was the primary cause of death, ruling out accidental or self-inflicted causes.
Investigators found evidence suggesting that Hikmat may have been injured on a bridge approximately 700 yards from where her body was found. At the bridge, police discovered a single 9mm casing, blood spatter, and an earring matching other jewelry Hikmat was wearing. These findings led authorities to believe that she was shot on the bridge before her body was disposed of in the lake.
On September 19, 2023, Hikmat's husband, 34-year-old Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and concealment of an unnatural death. Court documents allege that Drabick killed his wife and then threw her body off the bridge into Jordan Lake. He is currently being held without bond in the Chatham County Detention Center, with his next court date scheduled for October 30.
Hikmat, originally from Iraq, had moved to North Carolina in the previous year after marrying Drabick. Her brother, residing in Istanbul, Turkey, reported concerns for her safety prior to her disappearance, noting that she had stopped responding to his messages. He expressed a desire for justice following her death. Authorities have highlighted this case as a tragic instance of domestic violence, urging individuals in abusive relationships to seek help and support.
