Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee is now at the center of a shocking murder case, and prosecutors say his phone activity may play a key role in court. During a preliminary hearing on Monday, authorities claimed the 31-year-old searched for advice on ChatGPT about how to deal with an “unresponsive person” shortly after his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpetuo, was killed. Investigators believe those messages came directly from Lee’s phone. They also told the court he asked the AI tool another question about what kind of injuries could happen if someone slipped and fell in a shower.
The claim became important because Lee reportedly told police that Perpetuo might have fallen in the shower and that he “didn’t know what had happened to her.” However, when officers arrived, they found a much more disturbing scene.
Authorities said Perpetuo, who was 29, had severe injuries including stab wounds, bruises, and blood coming from her nose and mouth. Darron Lee now faces charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors have also said the death penalty is still a possible punishment if he is convicted.
Prosecutors say former NFL linebacker Darron Lee searched ChatGPT for advice after Gabriella Perpetuo’s death as disturbing crime scene details emerge
The courtroom heard new details about the investigation as detectives described what they saw inside the Tennessee home near Chattanooga where Gabriella Perpetuo was found dead.
Detective Brian Lockhart from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office told the court the house looked chaotic when officers walked in.
“The scene was in disarray,” Lockhart said during testimony.
“You walked in the door, there were boxes. A lot of stuff in the living room. The deceased was in the floor lying on her back.”
He then described the amount of blood found throughout the home.
“There was blood going up the staircase, on the hand railing there was blood, on the walls there was blood, on the floor in the living room there was blood, in the hallway and the stairs… there was blood in just about every room except one.”
Investigators also said Gabriella Perpetuo had serious injuries, including severe brain trauma, a broken neck, bruises across her body, and bite marks on her shoulder and thigh. The autopsy later concluded that she died from blunt force trauma.
Inside the home, detectives said they found broken glass, alcohol bottles scattered around, and a shattered microwave. Cleaning supplies, including bleach wipes and a spray bottle, were also discovered upstairs.
Lee himself was the person who called 911 from the house. Not long after officers arrived, he was arrested.
Beyond the criminal charges, Darron Lee is also facing a $50 million wrongful-death lawsuit connected to the case.
Before his legal troubles, Lee had a promising football career. He won a national championship with Ohio State Buckeyes football in 2014. Two years later, the New York Jets selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
During his time in New York, Lee recorded 241 tackles and four sacks. He was later traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played one season before short stints with the Buffalo Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Darron Lee has also faced legal trouble before. In 2023, he was arrested in Ohio after being accused of assaulting a woman. According to an arrest report cited by FOX17 News, he allegedly pushed the woman against a wall and struck her several times. Lee later pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal.
Now, prosecutors say the upcoming trial will focus not only on the physical evidence from the house but also on the digital trail left on Lee’s phone.
