In one of the most severe domestic violence allegations involving an NFL player this offseason, Darron Lee has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge. A grand jury in Hamilton County, Tennessee, indicted Lee, a former 2016 first-round draft pick of the New York Jets who also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo.
Lee was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office on February 6, 2025. He is charged with first-degree murder and initially with evidence tampering. He will stand trial in Hamilton County Criminal Court. The District Attorney, Coty Wamp, indicated the case could result in a capital punishment sentence, though a decision on pursuing this penalty remains pending.
Wamp confirmed that prosecutors dropped the evidence tampering charge to concentrate on the murder accusations. Notably, it is alleged that Lee consulted ChatGPT to stage the crime scene, inquiring about injuries that would resemble a fall in the shower.
We will focus solely on the murder of Gabriella,Wamp stated.
At Lee’s bond hearing, Detective Brian Lockhart described a scene of significant violence. Blood was discovered on staircases and walls. Glass was shattered throughout the house, and bottles of alcohol were present. Cleaning supplies were found upstairs, suggesting an attempt to sanitize the scene.
Lee had called the police, claiming Perpétuo was unresponsive and had possibly fallen in the shower. However, an autopsy revealed multiple brain traumas, a broken neck, severe bruises, and bite marks. Stab wounds were found on her legs. The medical examiner identified blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern involving Lee, who was previously involved in a 2023 assault in Ohio. He was accused of pushing and repeatedly punching a woman. Lee was also on probation for an aggravated assault conviction in Florida and had violated parole by moving to Tennessee without approval.
Lee, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2020, has been denied bond and remains in custody. His official murder arraignment is yet to be scheduled in Hamilton County Criminal Court. The broader problem of domestic violence in the NFL is emphasized by at least nine incidents involving players this offseason. The NFL has not offered a comment on these issues.