Abugharbieh queried ChatGPT on the night of 13 April, asking what would happen if a human were placed in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster.

TDS Desk:

A former University of South Florida (USF) student has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after prosecutors alleged he used the artificial intelligence chatbot “ChatGPT” to plan the disposal of his victims’ bodies.

Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, is accused in the deaths of Bangladeshi doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, whose disappearances have ended in tragedy, reports US news outlet NBC.

‘How would they find out’

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According to a court motion filed on Saturday (25 April), Abugharbieh queried ChatGPT on the night of 13 April–three days before the victims were last seen–asking what would happen if a human was placed in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster.

When the AI replied that the scenario sounded dangerous, the suspect allegedly followed up by asking, “How would they find out.”

OpenAI, the developer of the chatbot, has not yet commented on the matter.

Bangladeshi student Limon had discussed marrying Bristy before their deaths in US, family says

The investigation into the case revealed a series of forensic leads.

On 17 April, a roommate reportedly witnessed Abugharbieh moving cardboard boxes to a compactor dumpster, where investigators later recovered Limon’s student ID and credit cards.

DNA testing on items found in the dumpster, including a shirt and a kitchen mat, matched the genetic profiles of both Limon and Bristy.

Limon’s remains were discovered on Friday (24 April) in a heavy-duty trash bag near the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, Florida, with an autopsy citing “multiple sharp force injuries” as the cause of death.

While the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office discovered further remains on Sunday during the search for Bristy, they have yet to be officially identified.

No evidence of Bristy being alive

However, prosecutors stated there is no evidence to suggest she is still alive. The suspect was arrested on Friday following a brief standoff with police. In addition to murder, he faces charges of battery, false imprisonment, and tampering with evidence.

Abugharbieh initially denied knowing the victims’ whereabouts but reportedly changed his story after being confronted with location data placing his car and Limon’s phone in Clearwater on the day they vanished, according to the NBC report.

He claimed he had given the pair a ride but did not provide a reason.

Investigators also discovered blood in the suspect’s apartment and evidence that he had purchased cleaning supplies and trash bags on the night of the disappearance.

The families of Limon and Bristy, who had been involved romantically, issued a joint statement requesting that the remains of the victims be handled in accordance with Islamic funeral rituals.

They have also called on the Florida university to establish a memorial in their names.

In a statement, the university expressed its mourning over the tragic loss, reaffirming its commitment to student safety.

Abugharbieh is currently being held without bond pending a court hearing tomorrow.