A Florida man accused of killing two Bangladeshi doctoral students allegedly turned to artificial intelligence for advice on how to dispose of the bodies, according to court documents.
Suspect's Disturbing Questions to ChatGPT
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, a former University of South Florida student, has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the first degree with a weapon in the deaths of his roommate Zamil Limon and Limon's girlfriend Nahida Bristy. Prosecutors say that before the murders, Abugharbieh asked the AI chatbot ChatGPT: "How do you dump bodies?"
According to the Tampa Bay Times, citing court documents, Abugharbieh also asked on April 13: "What happens if a human is put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster?" That was three days before the couple was last seen.
The bot replied that it "sounds dangerous," to which Abugharbieh allegedly responded: "How would they find out?"
Additional Inquiries
The former student also asked about guns and whether a car's VIN can be changed. Other questions included: "Has there been someone who survived a sniper bullet to the head?" and "Will my neighbours hear my gun?"
The Victims
Limon, 27, was studying geography, environmental science, and policy at USF. Bristy, also 27, was a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering. They planned to marry in their native Bangladesh. The university described Bristy as a "talented and promising student."
Limon's remains were found on the Howard Frankland Bridge on Friday morning. A body discovered in a waterway near a bridge over Tampa Bay is believed to be Bristy's, though identification is pending. Law enforcement dive teams continue searching the bay.
Arrest and Charges
Abugharbieh was initially taken into custody on Friday at his family's home north of campus on preliminary charges including unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery. A SWAT team responded after he barricaded himself inside, eventually surrendering wearing only a blue towel.
He has been ordered held without bond, with a hearing set for Tuesday. A conviction could potentially carry the death penalty in Florida.
Abugharbieh attended USF from Spring 2021 through Spring 2023, pursuing a BS in Management, but was not currently enrolled.
