The Darron Lee murder case centers on the former New York Jets first-round linebacker, who is being held without bond in Hamilton County, Tennessee, on a first-degree murder indictment in the February 2026 death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo. A grand jury indicted Lee on June 9, 2026, and prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty. No arraignment date had been set as of June 2026.1Fox News. Former NFL First-Round Pick Darron Lee Indicted on First-Degree Murder Charge
What Happened in Ooltewah
Hamilton County deputies were dispatched to a home on Snow Cone Way in Ooltewah, Tennessee, on February 5, 2026, after a 911 call reporting CPR in progress. They arrived at about 1:34 p.m. and found Perpétuo, 29, unresponsive. Deputies and volunteer firefighters attempted life-saving measures. She was pronounced dead at the scene.2NewsChannel9. Former NFL Player Charged in Woman’s Murder After Body Found in Ooltewah Home
Lee was at the house. He told deputies he had found Perpétuo unconscious on the couch and thought she might have fallen in the shower, and he told investigators she had narcolepsy.3Chattanooga Times Free Press. Ex-NFL Player Darron Lee Indicted by Prosecutors What investigators saw inside the home told a different story. There was blood in nearly every room, on the staircase, hand railing, walls, and floors.4WTVBAM. Ex-LB Darron Lee Indicted on First-Degree Murder in Girlfriend’s Death A detective testified that the couple had been renting the home for about ten days.5ABC7 New York. Judge Keeps Ex-Jets Linebacker Darron Lee Jailed Without Bond on Murder Charge
What the Autopsy Showed
The Hamilton County Medical Examiner ruled Perpétuo’s death a homicide caused by multiple blunt force injuries. Detective Brian Lockhart testified she had a broken neck and a severe brain injury.6Local 3 News. Medical Examiner’s Report Finds Long History of Injuries on Victim’s Body The autopsy documented twelve distinct injuries, including a 2½-inch stab wound to the torso, extensive facial trauma, a bite mark on her shoulder, and a healing bite mark on her thigh.7NewsChannel9. Medical Examiner Details Injuries in Case Against Ex-NFL Player
The examiner also found numerous injuries “in different stages of healing” across Perpétuo’s body, including lacerations, hematomas, contusions, and abrasions on her head, arms, hands, and legs. Prosecutors pointed to that pattern as evidence of ongoing abuse before the fatal beating. Judge Tori Smith remarked during pretrial proceedings that the evidence suggested the offense may have been “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel,” citing potential torture or abuse beyond what was needed to cause death.6Local 3 News. Medical Examiner’s Report Finds Long History of Injuries on Victim’s Body
The ChatGPT Messages
Prosecutors introduced logs showing dozens of exchanges between Lee and the AI chatbot ChatGPT over the two days before he called 911.8Live 5 News. Former NFL Player Asked ChatGPT for Advice After Girlfriend’s Murder, Prosecutors Say Lee asked the chatbot how to handle an unresponsive person and whether specific injuries could be explained as self-inflicted or as the result of a fall.
In one message, Lee wrote: “Allie what should I tell my friend to handle someone non responsive but wants to call the police.” The chatbot offered help handling the situation “without framing it as ‘police trouble.'” Lee also asked whether a fall could cause “puncture-like wounds,” and the chatbot gave a list of characteristics for such wounds.9The Guardian. Darron Lee ChatGPT Murder Court Hearing Other messages included: “I wake up and she has two swollen eyes, I didn’t do anything, self inflicted. She stabbed herself split her eye” and “She’s not waking up or responding, what do I do?”8Live 5 News. Former NFL Player Asked ChatGPT for Advice After Girlfriend’s Murder, Prosecutors Say
Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp told the court the exchanges showed Lee “using ChatGPT as a legal adviser, as a defense attorney, asking ChatGPT to give him advice on how to cover up a crime scene.”9The Guardian. Darron Lee ChatGPT Murder Court Hearing After a preliminary hearing at which the ChatGPT logs and autopsy findings were presented, Judge Smith found sufficient evidence to send the case to a grand jury.
Bond Denied
Lee appeared before Judge Smith on February 11, 2026. DA Wamp argued Lee should remain in custody, pointing to prior felony convictions in Florida and Ohio and the fact that he was on active probation for a Florida aggravated assault conviction when Perpétuo died. Wamp told the court Lee had violated that probation by moving to Tennessee without approval from his probation officer, and that his court-ordered anger management classes would have ended just three days after Perpétuo’s death.10WWMT. Former NFL Player Charged With Murder Expected to Make Courtroom Appearance
Wamp also said two aggravating factors could qualify Lee for capital punishment, though she did not publicly identify them.11NBC Sports. Prosecutor Suggests Death Penalty Could Be in Play for Darron Lee Judge Smith denied bond. Lee’s public defender, Mike Little, declined to comment, saying it was too early in the case for statements.12The New York Times / The Athletic. Darron Lee Jets Murder Trial Bond
Indictment and Possible Death Penalty
The Hamilton County grand jury returned a first-degree murder indictment on June 9, 2026. Prosecutors dropped the earlier tampering with evidence charge as part of the indictment. “The State dismissed the tampering with evidence charge… We will focus solely on the murder,” Wamp said.13USA Today. Darron Lee Murder Charge Indictment
A first-degree murder conviction in Tennessee carries a life sentence. Wamp indicated a final decision on whether to pursue the death penalty would come in the weeks after the indictment.14The Guardian. Darron Lee Indicted on Murder Charge Lee remains at the Hamilton County Jail.1Fox News. Former NFL First-Round Pick Darron Lee Indicted on First-Degree Murder Charge
Lee’s Prior Record
The prosecution’s argument for holding Lee without bond rested heavily on incidents from the years after his NFL career.
Ohio Domestic Violence Case
In April 2023, police were called to a home in Dublin, Ohio, where Lee was accused of throwing a woman against a wall, knocking her down, and punching her eight or nine times. During that investigation, a second woman said Lee had assaulted her in October 2022 by choking her, throwing a phone at her head, and threatening to kill her.1510TV. Darron Lee Charged With Domestic Violence Assault He was charged with two counts of domestic violence and two counts of assault. After he failed to appear for a June 2023 court date, a Franklin County judge issued a bench warrant.16Columbus Dispatch. Darron Lee Issued Arrest Warrant After Failing to Appear in Court
The case resolved in February 2025. Lee pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, and the domestic violence charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to two years of community control, a $500 fine, and a no-contact order.17NBC4i. Former Ohio State Linebacker Accepts Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case Cocaine found during the April 2023 arrest led to a separate felony drug possession case filed that September; Lee entered drug court and ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possessing a counterfeit controlled substance, receiving one day in jail and a year of probation.18Columbus Dispatch. Ohio State Defender Darron Lee Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case
Florida Aggravated Assault
In October 2024, Lee was arrested in Alachua County, Florida, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly confronting a man with a firearm at a restaurant. The alleged victim said Lee pointed a gun at him during a verbal altercation; Lee denied pointing the weapon. His probation on that conviction required anger management classes and prior approval to relocate. After the Tennessee arrest, Alachua County filed a warrant alleging he had violated his probation by moving without permission.19NewsChannel9. Past Cases Surface as Florida Seeks Probation Warrant for Ex-NFL Player Charged With Murder
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Alongside the criminal case, Perpétuo’s family has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lee.20NewsChannel9. Body Camera Footage Shown at Preliminary Hearing for Former NFL Player Charged With Murder That civil action proceeds separately from the criminal prosecution in Hamilton County Criminal Court.