AI ‘Resurrection’ Provides Voice for Road Rage Victim in Historic Courtroom Event

Digital resurrection — the application of artificial intelligence to recreate the appearance and voice of those who have passed away — has been gaining momentum in recent years. As AI technology advances, these virtual representations are becoming more realistic and emotionally resonant.

In a historic development, Stacey Wales utilized AI to create a video featuring her deceased brother, Christopher Pelkey, enabling him to convey a message to the courtroom during the sentencing of the individual responsible for his death in a road rage incident in Chandler, Arizona. According to NPR, this represents the first documented use of AI in a victim impact statement within a U.S. courtroom.

“He doesn’t get a say. He doesn’t get a chance to speak,” Wales shared with NPR. “We can’t allow that to occur. We need to give him a voice.”

Pelkey, a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran and active church member, was remembered as a compassionate and generous individual who cherished his faith and selflessly assisted others. His sister characterized him as someone who would “give a stranger the shirt off his back.”

Wales dedicated two years to crafting a traditional victim impact statement but found it challenging to articulate her thoughts. It was only a week before the second trial that she conceived the idea of having her brother “speak” through AI.

“Every time I’d step into the shower or get in the car and my mind was at ease, I documented my feelings — frustration, tears, anger, love, anything,” she explained to NBC News. “I’ve been writing it for two years, but it wasn’t until a week and a half prior to this second trial that I thought of helping Chris express himself.”

The AI-generated video, which Wales also released online, showcases a digital version of Pelkey’s face and voice. In this clip, the AI representation of Pelkey introduces himself, stating, “Hello. Just to clarify for everyone viewing this, I’m a version of Chris Pelkey recreated using AI that employs my image and voice profile.”

The AI Pelkey conveys appreciation to those who played a role in his life and contemplates the tragedy, even suggesting that he and his killer, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, “could have been friends” in an alternate reality. The video concludes with an emotional goodbye: “Well, I’m gonna go fishing now. Love you all. See you on the other side.”

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang reacted emotionally to the video, stating, “I loved that AI. Thank you for that.” He imposed the maximum sentence for manslaughter — just over ten years in prison.

This innovative use of AI to give voice to those who have passed is part of an expanding trend. In 2023, Rolling Stone reported on the rising popularity of AI-generated deepfakes among true crime enthusiasts on TikTok. That same year, advocacy organizations March For Our Lives and Change the Ref employed AI-generated audio to recreate the voices of gun violence victims in a campaign urging legislative action.

As AI continues to advance, so does its capacity to transform how we remember — and hear from — those we have lost.