OOLTEWAH, TN – Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his girlfriend, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Lee was arrested Thursday after first responders discovered a female victim at a residence in Ooltewah, a community east of Chattanooga. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures but were unable to revive her. Authorities have not publicly identified the victim.
“Preliminary findings indicate the victim’s death was the result of a homicide,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Officials added that the investigation’s outcome may result in supplementary charges against Lee.
Lee was a standout linebacker at Ohio State, where he earned defensive MVP honors in the 2015 Sugar Bowl. The New York Jets selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He went on to play 58 games across three NFL teams — the Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills — before leaving the league after the 2020 season.
His arrest on murder charges follows a prior arrest in 2023 on assault and domestic violence charges. Details of that case were not immediately available.
Lee is being held at the Hamilton County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on February 11. The investigation remains active.
