Brazilian father detained after ChatGPT messages reveal plan to kill son
Police in São Gabriel da Palha, Espírito Santo, arrested a 36‑year‑old farmer on 19 June 2026, one day before he intended to murder his 8‑year‑old son to avoid paying child‑support. The suspect had used the artificial‑intelligence tool ChatGPT as a diary, describing how he would hire a hitman, purchase a weapon, rope and cyanide, and even plotting attacks on schools, churches and authorities. OpenAI identified the threatening content and reported it to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, which relayed the information to Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and the state police. Brazilian investigators used the data to obtain arrest and search warrants, seized the man’s phone and other materials, and prevented the planned attack. The suspect denied wrongdoing during the arrest. The case remains under investigation; the seized devices are being examined and formal charges for threat, incitement and attempted homicide are pending.