"The Crash" Mackenzie Shirilla Commentary & The AI Related Death of Sam Nelson

"The Crash" Mackenzie Shirilla Commentary & The AI Related Death of Sam Nelson

From True Crime Society by True Crime Society

May 28, 2026 · 1h 8m

About this episode

This episode discusses the tragic case of Sam Nelson and the implications of AI in his death.

Timestamps: (9:02) - Mackenzie / The crash (29:20) - Matthew Hertgen Update (34:13) - Sam Nelson * Note - Timestamps may slightly vary due to dynamic ads The AI tool ChatGPT is used by over 800 million people per week. In a recent poll, a majority of 13- to 17-year-olds said they use AI chatbots, with 28% saying they use them daily. Sam Nelson (19) started using ChatGPT when he was in high school. He began initially using it for general questions and homework help. Over time, it is alleged that Sam began to use the chatbot to get information about taking illicit drugs. In the early morning hours of May 31, 2025, Sam told the chatbot about drugs he had ingested and asked for help with the side effects that he was experiencing. ChatGPT’s last alleged message to Sam was “If you’re still nauseous after an hour, I can help troubleshoot further (Benadryl combo, timing, food intake, etc.). Just let me know your symptoms and how intense the nausea is right now.” Sam’s mother would find him dead in his bedroom hours later. In May 2026, Sam’s parents filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. They allege wrongful death and the unauthorized practice of medicine. Sam’s family are asking for financial…

People in this episode

Host: True Crime Society

Guest: Sam Nelson

Topics covered

  • AI and ethics
  • true crime
  • drug use
  • legal issues
  • youth and technology

Keywords

  • AI
  • ChatGPT
  • Sam Nelson
  • wrongful death
  • drug use
  • OpenAI
  • teenagers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: OpenAI, ChatGPT

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