Courtroom Shocker: Murder Victim ‘Speaks’ from the Grave with AI
An Arizona courtroom just became the testing ground for something that sounds more like spiritual fiction.
In a first-of-its-kind moment, a man who died in a road rage incident, Chris Pelkey, “spoke” to his killer from beyond the grave using artificial intelligence.
“To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” said the AI-generated voice and likeness of Pelkey. The video was created by his sister Stacey Wales and her husband, who painstakingly pieced together digital tools to recreate his image and speech. Stacey called it a “Frankenstein of love.”
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But no matter how well-intentioned, this is still a Frankenstein—and it should concern us deeply.
The Bible refers to this kind of practice as necromancy: seeking to speak to or for the dead. And it’s not just discouraged, it’s forbidden.
In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God says, “Let no one be found among you…who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead…Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”
Why is God so severe about this? Christian apologetics site GotQuestions.org explains it clearly: necromancy involves demons. “It opens the one who practices it to demonic attack,” they write. “Satan and his demons seek to destroy us, not to impart to us truth or wisdom.” First Peter 5:8 warns that “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
This form of AI, no matter how emotional or moving, mimics the forbidden attempt to pull information or closure from beyond the grave. And God has already provided a better way.
James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him.” That’s the key difference: necromancy doesn’t rely on God for wisdom. It circumvents Him to seek answers elsewhere. And demons are always happy to fill in the silence—with lies and manipulation.
Yes, the courtroom was moved. Even Judge Todd Lang said, “I love that AI. Thank you for that. I felt like that was genuine.” But feelings can be deceiving. And what’s being embraced here is a counterfeit comfort, a digital ghost playing at the role of the real man who has passed on to eternity.
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The voice may sound like Chris Pelkey. It may look like him. But it isn’t him. And opening these technological doors is not just ethically questionable, it’s spiritually dangerous.
We now live in an age of AI, and Christians must remain grounded in biblical truth. Not every innovation is progress. Some are just modern tools for ancient deceptions.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
