A North Carolina man was sentenced to decades in prison after fatally shooting his wife and throwing her body into a lake to escape their arranged marriage.
Sentencing and Charges
Omar Matthew Ibrahim Drabick, 37, received 25 to 31 years for second-degree murder and six to nine years for concealing the death of 34-year-old Hadeel Ghadhanfer Hikmat. The sentences will run consecutively. Drabick had originally faced a first-degree murder charge.
The Crime
On August 29, 2023, Hikmat’s body was discovered in Jordan Lake near Raleigh. Authorities found shell casings, blood, and her jewelry on a nearby bridge. Investigators determined Drabick shot her in the back and disposed of her body in the lake. Blood evidence was found on Drabick’s shoes and in his car.
Background and Motive
Hikmat had arrived in the U.S. a year earlier after an arranged marriage. Drabick became unhappy in the marriage and sought a way out. On the night of her death, he lured her to a bridge and carried out the attack. Defense attorneys said Drabick has autism and lacked the social skills to end the marriage peacefully.
Court Reactions
Prosecutors described the situation as spiraling out of control, while the judge rejected claims of responsibility by Drabick’s mother. Drabick apologized in court, saying, “From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry.”
