Darron Lee, a former NFL player, is now facing serious legal trouble. A grand jury in Hamilton County, Tennessee, indicted him on a first-degree murder charge related to his girlfriend’s death, Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo. The indictment highlights severe allegations against Lee this offseason.

Lee, drafted in the first round by the New York Jets in 2016, has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. His legal issues began with an arrest on February 6, 2025, by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors in Hamilton County decided to pursue the murder charge exclusively, as stated by District Attorney Coty Wamp. Before this decision, a charge of evidence tampering was dropped.

The case against Lee becomes even more complex due to his alleged actions following Perpétuo’s death. Reports suggest Lee used an AI chatbot, ChatGPT, to inquire about making her death appear accidental, like a fall in the shower. Detective Brian Lockhart, who first investigated the scene, described finding a violent, chaotic environment at Lee’s residence. Evidence included bloodstains, broken glass, and scattered alcohol bottles.

An autopsy revealed grim details that contradicted Lee’s call to emergency services, where he suggested a fall. The medical examiner found multiple severe brain injuries, a broken neck, stab wounds, and other bruises on Perpétuo’s body. Blunt force trauma was determined as the cause of death.

This isn’t Lee’s first encounter with violence. In 2023, he faced charges in Ohio for assaulting a woman. He also violated terms of probation from an earlier conviction in Florida. His legal troubles have persisted, with his most recent bond hearing in Tennessee resulting in denial.

The NFL is dealing with a series of domestic abuse cases involving current and former players, including at least nine incidents in this offseason alone. While Lee awaits an arraignment date, his future and potential trial outcomes remain uncertain.