Florida incident: Suspect searched ChatGPT on body disposal

A man accused of killing two doctoral students at the University of South Florida allegedly used ChatGPT to search for ways to dispose of a body, according to court filings cited by NBC News.

The suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder over the deaths of two Bangladeshi doctoral students, Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27.

Prosecutors said Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT on April 13 about placing a human body in a garbage bag and disposing of it in a dumpster, including follow-up questions on how such actions could be detected.

Court documents also allege that the suspect purchased cleaning supplies and trash bags before the killings, and later attempted to dispose of evidence in a dumpster near his residence.

Investigators reportedly recovered personal belongings of the victims, including ID cards and other items, while human remains were found in separate locations. Autopsy findings cited in the filing indicate one victim died from multiple sharp-force injuries.

Abugharbieh was arrested following a brief standoff and is currently held without bond. He faces multiple charges, including murder, evidence tampering, and improper handling of human remains.

The victims’ families, both from Bangladesh, have requested Islamic burial rites, while the University of South Florida expressed condolences and said it was mourning the loss of the students.

OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.