In Chatham County, North Carolina, a local man has been taken into custody on charges related to the death of his wife, whose body was discovered in Jordan Lake last month. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick, 34, who is now facing charges of first-degree murder and concealment of an unnatural death.
The victim, identified as Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat, also 34, was found near a boat ramp in Jordan Lake on August 29. Authorities were able to confirm her identity through fingerprint analysis. The investigation revealed that her death was neither accidental nor self-inflicted, leading to suspicions of foul play.
Drabick was arrested on Tuesday morning and is currently being held without bond at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. He is expected to appear in court on September 25. Authorities believe that Drabick killed his wife and disposed of her body by throwing it off a bridge into Jordan Lake.
On September 8, search warrants were executed at two locations in Wake County that Hikmat was known to frequent. The search was a joint operation involving the Chatham County Sheriff Office and the Apex and Raleigh police departments.
Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson expressed his condolences to Hikmat’s family and urged anyone in an abusive relationship to seek help. He emphasized the tragic nature of domestic violence incidents and the immeasurable pain they cause.
Hikmat, originally from Iraq, had moved to the U.S. last year. Her brother, Firas Hikmat, reported her missing after not hearing from her for two days. He expressed the family’s hope for justice in this tragic situation.
While the motive behind the alleged murder remains undisclosed, the investigation is ongoing. The tragic incident has brought the issue of domestic violence into sharp focus, with authorities urging those in abusive situations to seek help and support.