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Incident 1491: ChatGPT Use Was Reportedly Cited in Delusional State Before Homicide and Assault in Readfield, Maine

Description: In February 2025, Samuel Whittemore killed his wife, Margaux Whittemore, and assaulted his mother, Dorothy Whittemore, at a home in Readfield, Maine. Court reporting said forensic psychologists testified he was experiencing bipolar disorder with psychotic features and delusions, and that he had used ChatGPT up to 14 hours a day as a companion before the attack. Current reporting links ChatGPT use to his deteriorating mental state but does not establish direct violent instruction.
Editor Notes: Timeline note: (1) The specific harm event for this incident ID reportedly occurred on 02/19/2025. (2) The incident ID was created 05/13/2026.

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Alleged: OpenAI developed an AI system deployed by Samuel Whittemore and OpenAI, which harmed Margaux Whittemore , Dorothy Whittemore and Domestic violence victims.
Alleged implicated AI system: ChatGPT

Incident Stats

Incident ID
1491
Report Count
1
Incident Date
2025-02-19
Editors
Daniel Atherton

Incident Reports

Reports Timeline

Incident OccurrenceBelfast man who killed his wife spent hours talking with Chat GPT and believed robots were taking over the world
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Belfast man who killed his wife spent hours talking with Chat GPT and believed robots were taking over the world

Belfast man who killed his wife spent hours talking with Chat GPT and believed robots were taking over the world

bangordailynews.com

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Belfast man who killed his wife spent hours talking with Chat GPT and believed robots were taking over the world
bangordailynews.com · 2025

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TTY 1-800-437-1220. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

If you …

Variants

A "variant" is an AI incident similar to a known case—it has the same causes, harms, and AI system. Instead of listing it separately, we group it under the first reported incident. Unlike other incidents, variants do not need to have been reported outside the AIID. Learn more from the research paper.
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