Law Enforcement Utilises ChatGPT Conversations in Murder Charges

Law enforcement uses chat-bot conversations as evidence in crimes.

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly employing chat-bot conversations as evidence in criminal cases, according to a report by CNN, citing various cases and expert opinions.

In one instance, two graduate students from the University of South Florida went missing in April. A neighbour of one of them posed an unusual question to ChatGPT:

“What happens if you put a person in a black garbage bag and throw it in a dumpster,” wrote Hisham Abugarbieh.

The chat-bot responded that it “sounds dangerous.” The suspect then asked another question:

“How will they find out?”

Among other prompts were:

1. Is it legal to keep a gun at home without a license?
2. How to change a car’s VIN number?
3. Have there been cases of survival after a sniper bullet to the head?
4. Can neighbours hear a gunshot?
5. What water temperature causes instant burns?

The records have been included in court documents, with Abugarbieh facing charges of double murder.

“I think any communications with AI bots are a real treasure trove for law enforcement. [Suspects] believe their interactions with AI will remain confidential or undiscovered, so they often ask direct and candid questions,” commented Ilya Kolochenko, a cybersecurity expert and lawyer from Washington.

CNN noted that criminal cases highlight the growing use of chat-bots for personal advice and the lack of privacy protection for such conversations. These discussions are not protected by law in the same way as communication with a licensed attorney or doctor.

While communication with a specialist is protected by doctor-patient or attorney-client privilege, the developer of ChatGPT is obliged to provide conversations as part of legal proceedings.

“In our firm, we treat it like this: anything someone inputs into ChatGPT can be disclosed in a legal process,” commented Virginia Hammerly, a lawyer from Texas.

Chat Logs in the Courtroom

The use of AI conversations in criminal cases is a novel phenomenon, yet it resembles how the law treats Google search queries.

Experts assert that this type of electronic evidence can reveal a person’s motives, actions, and psychological state.

In 2025, Brian Walsh was found guilty of murdering his wife after prosecutors showed the jury Google search queries. These included questions like “10 ways to dispose of a dead body” or “can you be charged with murder without a body.”

In October, federal prosecutors charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with arson, alleging he initiated a destructive fire in California. Part of the evidence included queries to ChatGPT.

Investigations Against OpenAI

As the impact of ChatGPT is scrutinised, investigators have begun to focus on the chat-bot’s responses. In April, Florida’s Attorney General launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI, claiming the company’s neural network provided “substantial advice” to a suspect in a mass shooting at a state university.

At the end of April, victims of a February school shooting in Canada filed a lawsuit against Sam Altman and his firm, alleging their involvement in the attack.

Back in August 2025, OpenAI shared plans to address ChatGPT’s shortcomings in handling “sensitive situations.” This was prompted by a lawsuit from a family who blamed the chat-bot for a tragedy involving their son.