CHATTANOOGA, TN — Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee was formally indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo, at a rented home in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
The Hamilton County grand jury’s indictment escalates the case against Lee, a former first-round draft pick who played for the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills between 2016 and 2020. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp confirmed prosecutors dismissed a separate tampering with evidence charge to focus solely on the murder allegation, which carries a potential life sentence and death penalty eligibility. Lee, 31, remains held without bond in the Hamilton County Jail since his February arrest.
The case centers on bizarre evidence that Lee allegedly consulted ChatGPT after Perpétuo’s death to stage the scene as an accidental shower fall. According to court testimony, Lee asked the artificial intelligence chatbot about injuries consistent with someone falling in the shower and whether a fall could cause bruising around the eyes and “two stabby looking wounds.” Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Lockhart testified that Lee called 911 claiming he found Perpétuo unresponsive and suggesting “she may have slipped and fallen in the shower” due to her narcolepsy. Prosecutors also accused Lee of asking ChatGPT how to get medical help without calling police.
The crime scene told a different story than Lee’s account to emergency responders. Detective Lockhart, one of the first investigators on scene, described finding “blood in just about every room” of the Ooltewah home, including blood on the staircase, handrails, walls and floors. The microwave glass was shattered, alcohol bottles were scattered throughout the residence, and cleaning supplies including bleach wipes and spray bottles were discovered upstairs. Lockhart testified the scene was “in disarray” with boxes and belongings strewn about the living room where Perpétuo’s body was found. Blood was even discovered in a car inside the garage, according to prosecutors.
The autopsy revealed the extent of Perpétuo’s injuries, which contradicted any accidental fall scenario. Medical examiners determined the 29-year-old died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries, documenting 12 separate wounds including severe brain trauma, a broken neck, bruising across her body, bite marks on her shoulder and thigh, stab wounds to her legs, and significant facial trauma. The comprehensive nature of the injuries led investigators to dismiss Lee’s shower fall explanation. This was not Lee’s first involvement with law enforcement regarding violence against women. Court records show he was on probation at the time of his arrest for three separate alleged assaults in Ohio and Florida, including incidents involving another man, Lee’s mother, and the mother of his child.
Lee’s football career began promisingly after winning the 2014 national championship with Ohio State, leading to his selection as the 20th overall pick by the Jets in 2016. He spent three seasons in New York, recording 241 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four sacks before being traded to Kansas City for a sixth-round draft pick. His lone season with the Chiefs produced 31 tackles in 16 games, but the team declined to re-sign him. After brief stints with Buffalo and Las Vegas, Lee’s NFL career ended following the 2020 season. The former linebacker had been living in Tennessee without approval from his probation officers, violating the terms of his supervision for previous assault convictions.
Perpétuo’s estate has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lee separate from the criminal proceedings. The civil case adds another legal challenge for the former athlete, whose bond was denied after prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk and danger to the community. Hamilton County District Attorney Wamp told local media that a final decision on seeking the death penalty will be made as the case progresses through the court system. Body camera footage from responding officers and evidence recovered from electronic devices were presented during preliminary hearings, building the prosecution’s case against Lee.
Lee is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County Criminal Court on June 17, though an arraignment date for the first-degree murder indictment has not yet been set. The case represents one of the most serious domestic violence charges against a former NFL player this offseason, amid what observers describe as an epidemic of such incidents involving current and former players.
