A man arrested in connection with the deaths of two University of South Florida doctoral students allegedly consulted an AI chatbot about disposing of a human body in the days before the pair vanished, according to court documents filed by prosecutors.
Hisham Abugharbieh, 26, faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon in the deaths of Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both 27-year-old students from Bangladesh. Limon's remains were discovered Friday morning inside multiple black trash bags in advanced decomposition on the Howard Frankland Bridge spanning Tampa Bay. Bristy remains missing, though prosecutors have stated they found no evidence suggesting she is alive.
The pair disappeared from the USF campus on April 16. Abugharbieh, a former USF student, was Limon's off-campus roommate.
Court filings reveal a pattern of concerning online searches and purchases. On April 7, prosecutors allege Abugharbieh ordered duct tape. Four days later, he purchased fire starter, charcoal, trash bags, and lighter fluid.
On April 13, prosecutors claim he asked ChatGPT: "What happens if a human has a put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster." When the AI responded that the scenario sounded dangerous, he allegedly followed up by asking: "How would they find out."
Two additional searches followed on April 15. Prosecutors say Abugharbieh asked ChatGPT whether VIN numbers on vehicles could be altered and whether firearms could be kept at home without a license. On April 17, he allegedly searched for information about vehicle inspections at Hillsborough River State Park.
A third roommate told investigators that between the night of April 16 and the morning of April 17, he witnessed Abugharbieh moving multiple cardboard boxes from his bedroom to an on-site compactor dumpster using a gray rolling cart. When questioned about the boxes, Abugharbieh claimed they contained old clothing he no longer wanted.
Authorities searched the compactor and recovered a wallet containing Limon's student ID and Visa card, along with other items.
Abugharbieh was arrested Friday after deputies responded to a domestic violence call at his family's residence. He made an initial court appearance Saturday and was ordered held without bond. A hearing is scheduled for April 28 at 9 a.m.
During his police interview, Abugharbieh denied any involvement in the disappearance of either student. The Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, appointed to represent him, declined to comment.
On Sunday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced that human remains had been recovered from Tampa Bay waterways, though identification is pending.
Author James Rodriguez: "The digital trail here is stark and damning, if the allegations hold up in court, but the fact that someone would leave such an obvious paper trail through a public AI system is remarkable in its own right."
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