Hisham Queried ChatGPT for Body Disposal Tips in Murder of Two Bangladeshi Students

Chilling new details have emerged in the double murder of Bangladeshi doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy. According to a report by the US news outlet NBC, prosecutors in Florida have alleged that the suspect, Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, utilized the artificial intelligence chatbot "ChatGPT" to plan the disposal of the victims' bodies and attempt to evade detection.

According to a court motion filed on Saturday (April 25), Abugharbieh queried the AI on the night of April 13—three days before the victims were last seen—asking what would happen if a human were 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.

The investigation into the case revealed a series of forensic leads that tied the suspect to the crime. On April 17, 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 (April 24) 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. However, prosecutors stated there is no evidence to suggest she is still alive.

Abugharbieh was arrested on Friday following a brief standoff with police. In addition to first-degree murder, he faces charges of battery, false imprisonment, and tampering with evidence. The suspect initially denied knowing the victims' whereabouts but 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 then 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 and discussed marrying before their deaths, issued a joint statement requesting that the remains be handled in accordance with Islamic funeral rituals. They have also called on the University of South Florida (USF) to establish a memorial in their names.

In a statement, the university expressed its mourning over the tragic loss and reaffirmed its commitment to student safety. Abugharbieh is currently being held without bond pending a court hearing tomorrow. Under Florida law, first-degree murder carries the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.