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A Florida man stands accused of killing his roommate and friend, with allegations suggesting he used ChatGPT to inquire about disposing of a body in a dumpster just days before their disappearance.
Hisham Abugharbieh faces several charges, including two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon, linked to the deaths of doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, both aged 27. This information comes from a statement by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
The authorities launched an extensive search for Limon and Bristy after their disappearance on April 16. Over a week later, on April 24, Abugharbieh was identified as a “person of interest.” He was apprehended without incident following a standoff with law enforcement at a home in Hillsborough County, according to the sheriff’s office.
On that same day, Limon’s body was found unclothed near the Howard Frankland Bridge, as revealed by court documents accessed by the Tampa Bay Times. Reports indicate he had suffered multiple stab wounds.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery of another set of human remains in the waterways near Interstate 275 and 4th Street North on April 26, according to a statement from the department. However, the connection of these remains to the ongoing case remains uncertain.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office discovered a second set of human remains in the waterways in the area of Interstate 275 and 4th Street North on April 26, according to a statement released by the department, but it’s unclear whether that discovery is connected to the case.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator Brittany Muller told Oxygen the morning of April 27 that the remains had still not been identified, adding, “to protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not comment further than what has been released.”
ChatGPT Searches Discovered on Hisham Abugharbieh’s Phone
Investigators are now releasing more information about what led them to arrest Abugharbieh.
According to the court records obtained by Tampa Bay Times, three days before Limon and Bristy disappeared, Abugharbieh allegedly used Chat GPT to ask about placing a human into a dumpster. When the AI tool replied that “it sounds dangerous,” Abugharbieh asked, “How would they find out?”
Then, just a day before the doctoral students vanished, Abugharbieh asked, “Can a VIN number on a car be changed?” and “Can you keep a gun at home without a license,” per the records.
Authorities noted other suspicious searches were conducted through ChatGPT in the days after the students disappeared. According to the court records, Abugharbieh asked April 19, “Has there been someone who survived a sniper bullet to the head?” as well as “Will my neighbors hear my gun?”
Blood, Duct Tape, Missing Phone Case Discovered in Missing Person Probe
Investigators also found evidence to suggest that Abugharbieh drove across the Courtney Campbell Causeway to Sand Key Park the night of April 16 with video footage showing a Hyundai matching his vehicle in the area. Limon’s cell phone also last pinged in the same area that night before the signal dropped.
Abugharbieh—who had a cut on his left pinky finger when he talked to detectives—insisted the two had not been in his car and told investigators that he had nothing to do with their disappearances, according to the court documents. He told authorities that he had been in the area that night to check out possible fishing locations. Later, he allegedly admitted to driving Limon to the location, per the court records, but told authorities he’d just dropped his roommate off and then left.
Not far from the apartment Limon and Abugharbieh shared investigators discovered a CVS receipt in a dumpster, with a time stamp of 10:47 p.m. on April 16, for trash bags, Lysol wipes, Febreze, Funyons and Irish Springs body wash. Although Abugharbieh denied making the purchase, investigators found a DoorDash order on his phone for the items, per the court records.
Investigators also uncovered silver duct tape, which tested positive for blood.
Inside Limon’s bedroom in the apartment, they found Bristy’s purse and USF identification card, sneakers and an umbrella she was seen carrying in surveillance footage showing her leaving the campus that day, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
Limon’s wallet, glasses and Bristy’s iPhone case were all discovered inside a trash compactor, authorities said in the documents. In addition, investigators found blood-stained clothing and a kitchen floor mat that had been missing from the apartment.
Inside Abugharbieh’s bedroom, forensic analysis revealed two “relatively human-sized” spots on the carpet that tested positive for blood through chemical testing, according to the court records. Authorities also discovered trash bags and duct tape under Abugharbieh’s bed.
Abugharbieh is currently being held without bond, according to Fox 13. His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 28. It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney.