Darron Lee, a former NFL player, has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo. Lee, who was a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, was indicted on June 11, 2026. The Hamilton County District Attorney, Coty Wamp, stated that the case is eligible for the death penalty, although a final decision on pursuing that will be made as the case progresses. Wamp confirmed that prosecutors have dismissed a separate charge of tampering with evidence against Lee, focusing solely on the murder charge.
According to reports, Lee allegedly consulted an AI chatbot to stage the scene of Perpétuo's death to appear as if she had fallen in the shower. At a bond hearing, Detective Brian Lockhart described the crime scene as violent, with evidence of blood throughout the house and signs of a struggle. An autopsy revealed that Perpétuo suffered multiple severe brain traumas, a broken neck, and other injuries, with the cause of death determined to be blunt force trauma.
Lee has a history of violence, including a 2023 incident in Ohio where he was charged with assault. He was on probation for that case at the time of his bond hearing in Tennessee. Lee has not played in the NFL since the 2020 season and is currently in custody without bond. The NFL has not commented on the situation, which is part of a broader pattern of domestic violence incidents involving NFL players this offseason. An arraignment date for Lee's indictment has not yet been scheduled.