Hisham Abugharbieh Asked ChatGPT About Disposing a Body Before USF Students’ Deaths

Prosecutors say Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, asked ChatGPT about disposing of a body days before two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh went missing, according to a report filed by prosecutors.

The Associated Press reported that Abugharbieh asked what would happen if a human body was put in a garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster, and that the chatbot responded that the question sounded dangerous, according to the report filed Saturday.

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The AP also said Abugharbieh asked whether the vehicle identification number on his car could be changed and whether he could keep a gun at home without a license, according to the pretrial detention report.

The Orlando Sentinel’s version of the AP story similarly states that Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT what would happen if a human body was put in a garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster, and that he also asked about changing a vehicle identification number and keeping a gun at home without a license.

The Guardian likewise described the alleged ChatGPT exchange as prosecutors said Abugharbieh asked on 13 April what happens if a person is “put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster,” and that ChatGPT responded that it sounded dangerous.

Across the coverage, the case centers on the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27, and on the question of whether the suspect’s use of ChatGPT played any role in the alleged killings.

Court filings and reporting describe a sequence of alleged actions by Abugharbieh that prosecutors say began before the students were last seen alive.

The Guardian said prosecutors allege that on 7 April Abugharbieh ordered duct tape online and that on 11 April he also ordered fire starter, charcoal, trash bags and lighter fuel.

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The Guardian then placed the ChatGPT question about body disposal on 13 April, followed by additional questions on 15 April about changing a VIN number and keeping a gun at home without a license.

The Guardian also said that on 17 April prosecutors allege Abugharbieh asked, “are cars checked at the Hillsborough River state park,” and that a roommate told investigators about moving cardboard boxes to a compactor dumpster.

In the Associated Press account, the remains of Abugharbieh’s roommate, Zamil Limon, were found on the Howard Frankland bridge Friday morning, while Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said later that day that they were still searching for Limon’s girlfriend, Nahida Bristy.

Axios added additional detail about the ChatGPT timeline, including the April 19 iPhone question and the Thursday evening message: “What does missing endangered adult mean.”

The reporting describes Abugharbieh’s arrest and the evidence investigators say they found, alongside his denial of involvement.

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The Associated Press said Abugharbieh was initially arrested Friday at his family’s home on preliminary charges that include unlawfully moving a dead body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment and battery.

The AP also described a domestic-violence call at his family’s home just north of the campus, where officers responded with a SWAT team, a drone, a robot and crisis negotiators.

Axios said Abugharbieh was being held without bail Monday in the Hillsborough County jail on two counts of first-degree murder, among other charges.

Deltaplex News and Sarasota Herald-Tribune both described the physical evidence and the medical examiner’s conclusions, including “numerous black utility trash bags and was in advanced stages of decomposition.”

The Guardian added that court records show Abugharbieh denied “having any involvement in the disappearance of Zamila Limon and Nahida Bristy,” and that the Hillsborough county public defender’s office declined to comment on the case.

A central development in the case is Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s decision to expand a probe into OpenAI to include the USF killings after learning the primary suspect used ChatGPT.

The Associated Press reported that an investigation launched by Florida’s attorney general last week over whether ChatGPT offered advice to a gunman who killed two people last year at Florida State University will be expanded to include the killings of the USF students.

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Axios similarly said Florida’s top cop launched a probe into OpenAI this month, citing in part ChatGPT’s alleged role in a mass shooting last year at Florida State University.

The Washington Examiner said Uthmeier announced Monday that OpenAI would be included in criminal investigations involving the alleged murders of two University of South Florida doctoral students, quoting Uthmeier: “We are expanding our criminal investigation into OpenAI to include the USF murders after learning the primary suspect used ChatGPT.”

Axios added that OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment on Monday and that OpenAI in a statement said it would cooperate with the investigation.

In addition to the criminal investigation expansion, the reporting also described a status conference scheduled for Tuesday, with Axios saying Abugharbieh will go before a judge for a status conference at 9am Tuesday.

While the underlying allegations are consistent across outlets, the reporting emphasizes different aspects of the same case, including the specific ChatGPT prompts, the physical evidence, and the broader policy implications.

The Associated Press story centers on the prosecutors’ report and the ChatGPT questions, including that ChatGPT responded that Abugharbieh’s question sounded dangerous and that he asked about changing a vehicle identification number and keeping a gun at home without a license.

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The Guardian’s framing highlights the alleged disposal question and the follow-up “How would they find out.”

Axios explicitly connects the USF case to a wider debate about AI accountability and lists additional ChatGPT queries such as “Will Apple know who is the new iPhone user after the previous user” and “What does missing endangered adult mean.”

Deltaplex News and Sarasota Herald-Tribune focus more heavily on the physical description of the remains and the medical examiner’s findings, including “numerous black utility trash bags and was in advanced stages of decomposition” and “multiple sharp force injuries.”

People adds a different angle by reporting that families in Bangladesh called for legal action against the university housing facility where Limon had been assigned to room with Abugharbieh.

The next steps described in the coverage focus on court proceedings for Abugharbieh, the ongoing search and identification issues, and the expanded investigation into OpenAI.

Axios said Abugharbieh will go before a judge for a status conference at 9am Tuesday, while the Associated Press said a hearing is set for Tuesday and that Abugharbieh was ordered held without bond.

The Associated Press reported that on Sunday the sheriff’s office announced that a body had been found in a waterway near the bridge but had not been identified.

Sky News said human remains were found on Sunday in water at the western end of the same bridge, although the remains have not been identified, and it described the charges Abugharbieh faces.

The Washington Examiner quoted Sheriff Chad Chronister calling it “a deeply disturbing case that has shaken our community and impacted many who were hoping for a safe resolution,” and it provided a phone number for tips about Bristy’s disappearance.

The Associated Press and Axios both described the Florida attorney general’s expansion of the criminal investigation into OpenAI, with Uthmeier saying the USF murders will be included after learning the primary suspect used ChatGPT.