Police in Espírito Santo arrest man who revealed to ChatGPT plan to kill his 8-year-old son to avoid paying child support
U.S. agencies, including the FBI, alerted Brazilian authorities about 'concrete risk' to the victim
By O Globo — Rio de Janeiro 06/26/2026 10:40 AM Updated 51 minutes ago
A man who revealed to ChatGPT his plan to kill his 8-year-old son to avoid paying child support to his ex-partner was arrested in São Gabriel da Palha, in northwestern Espírito Santo. The alert came from U.S. authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which shared information about the 'concrete risk to the victim's integrity.'
The action took place under preventive arrest and search and seizure warrants in the locality of Farturinha, a rural area of the municipality, on June 19, but details of the case were only released this week. To the police, the man denied any intention to kill the child.
According to investigators, OpenAI — the company responsible for ChatGPT — reported to the FBI the content of the 36-year-old Brazilian's conversations with the artificial intelligence. Through international cooperation, Brazil's Ministry of Justice was informed and passed the alert to the Espírito Santo Civil Police. The suspect's name was not disclosed.
In the messages, the man stated that he intended to kill the child and mentioned already having a gun, a rope, and cyanide. The Civil Police said he also indicated an intention to invade schools and churches to make as many victims as possible. He also allegedly contacted a hitman to execute the 8-year-old son, with whom he had no contact.
The AI's responses to the man's messages were not detailed. The accused is expected to face charges of threat, incitement to crime, and attempted homicide. His seized cell phone will undergo forensic analysis. The police are investigating whether the alleged hitman actually exists.
