Darron Lee, a former NFL linebacker, has been indicted in the murder of his partner, Gabriella Perpetuo.
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A grand jury in Hamilton County moved forward with the charge of first-degree murder while dismissing a separate tampering with evidence charge. The charge of first-degree murder carries a life sentence.
Lee remains in a Hamilton County Jail without bond as the case against him continues.
The former linebacker is accused of killing Perpetuo at a home in Ooltewah, Tennessee, in February. The medical examiner listed the death as blunt force trauma. An autopsy report listed 12 different injuries.
According to News Channel 9, bodycam footage showed Lee telling deputies that he did not know what happened. He said that he called 911 when Perpetuo "wasn't saying anything."
However, a March hearing featured messages that the former NFL player had allegedly typed into a ChatGTP assistant before calling 911.
"Don't know what to do right now," the message read. "Fiancee did her crazy thing again and now she's messed up. I wake up and she has two swollen eyes, I didn't do anything, self inflicted.
"She stabbed herself split her eye. IDK but she isn't waking up or responding. What do I do?"
District Attorney Coty Wamp told the Court that Lee had dozens of conversations over a two-day period with ChatGTP about "what he did to Perpetuo in detail." According to the prosecution, Lee asked how to cover it up and what to say to 911.
A Tennessee native, Lee spent five seasons playing in the NFL. He suited up for multiple teams at the linebacker position.
Lee entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He started his career with the New York Jets, and he spent three seasons with the AFC East team while tallying 241 tackles, three interceptions, one interception return for a touchdown, and 11 quarterback hits.
Lee moved to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He spent one season with the team while playing in a backup role. He tallied 31 combined tackles, and he ended the season as a Super Bowl champion. Though he did not play during the playoffs.
His final season in the NFL came with the Buffalo Bills. He spent 2020 back in the AFC East while appearing in two games.
