Former NFL first-round pick Darron Lee indicted on first-degree murder charge in girlfriend's death

In what is the astir gruesome illustration of home unit allegations against immoderate existent oregon erstwhile NFL subordinate this offseason, Darron Lee is present facing a first-degree execution complaint aft being formally indicted by a expansive assemblage successful Hamilton County, Tenn.

Lee, a 2016 first-round prime of the New York Jets who besides played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, was indicted Wednesday successful transportation with the decease of his girlfriend, Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo.

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Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office connected Feb. 6, 2025, and charged with first-degree execution and tampering with evidence. (Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com/Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)

Lee volition beryllium tried successful Hamilton County Criminal Court successful what is perchance a superior punishment case. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp has stated the lawsuit is eligible for a decease punishment sentence, but a last determination astir seeking that condemnation volition beryllium made arsenic the lawsuit proceeds.

Wamp told Chattanooga's News 9 that prosecutors dismissed a abstracted complaint of tampering with grounds against Lee.

"We volition absorption solely connected the execution of Gabriella," Wamp said.

This lawsuit is tragic and besides bizarre successful that Lee allegedly consulted ChatGPT aft Perpétuo's decease to allegedly signifier the country to look arsenic if she had died aft a autumn successful the shower.

Lee allegedly asked the AI chatbot astir injuries that would beryllium accordant with idiosyncratic falling successful the shower.

Darron Lee of the Kansas City Chiefs walks disconnected the tract earlier a crippled against the Tennessee Titans astatine Nissan Stadium successful Nashville, Tenn., connected Nov. 10, 2019. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

At Lee's enslaved proceeding successful February, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Lockhart, 1 of the archetypal investigators connected scene, described a convulsive transgression scene.

Lockhart testified determination was humor connected the staircase, handrails, walls, floors, and successful astir each country of the house. The detective added that the microwave solid was shattered, much solid was scattered passim the home, and intoxicant bottles were contiguous throughout.

Detectives besides recovered cleaning supplies upstairs, including bleach wipes, and a spray vessel — each presumably meant to scrub the scene.

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Lockhart confirmed Lee was the 1 who called constabulary to the scene. Lee told 911 dispatchers that helium recovered Perpétuo was unresponsive and suggested she whitethorn person fallen successful the shower.

But an autopsy suggested thing different.

It showed Perpétuo suffered aggregate terrible encephalon traumas, a breached neck, bruising crossed her body, a wound people connected her shoulder, a wound people connected her thigh, stab wounds connected her legs, and facial bruising and cuts. The aesculapian examiner determined the origin of decease to beryllium blunt unit trauma.

Darron Lee of the New York Jets runs the shot successful the 3rd 4th against the Detroit Lions astatine Ford Field successful Detroit, Mich., connected Sept. 10, 2018. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

This was not the archetypal incidental of unit Lee was progressive successful that required instrumentality enforcement.

He was progressive successful a 2023 incidental successful Ohio — helium played collegiately astatine Ohio State — wherever records amusement Lee pushed a pistillate and punched her successful the look aggregate times. He was connected probation for that lawsuit astatine the clip of his enslaved proceeding successful Tennessee.

A Tennessee Department of Corrections and Parole serviceman testified during that enslaved proceeding that Lee was besides connected probation for aggravated battle with a deadly limb condemnation successful Florida. The serviceman added that Lee had moved to Tennessee without support and was successful usurpation of his presumption of supervision.

Lee, who has not played successful the NFL since the decision of the 2020 season, was denied enslaved and remains successful custody — a condition the authoritative execution complaint volition evidently not change.

The NFL has seen a bid of home maltreatment incidents this offseason, with a minimum of 9 existent oregon erstwhile players arrested, sued, enactment connected proceedings oregon simply alleged to person been involved. The NFL has declined to remark connected the matter.

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An arraignment day connected Lee's first-degree execution indictment has not yet been scheduled successful Hamilton County Criminal Court.

Lee played 3 years with the Jets, 1 with the Chiefs and 1 with the Bills. He past played successful 2020.

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