CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A former NFL linebacker is facing a first-degree murder charge after prosecutors say he killed his girlfriend and then allegedly turned to an artificial intelligence chatbot for advice before calling 911.
Darron Lee, a former first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, was arrested in February and charged in the death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpétuo, 29. Authorities say she was found dead inside the couple’s home in Ooltewah, Tennessee, after deputies responded to a 911 call.
During a preliminary hearing, prosecutors revealed that Lee allegedly used the AI tool ChatGPT shortly before contacting emergency services. According to court testimony, investigators recovered messages showing Lee asking questions about what to do if someone is unresponsive and whether certain injuries could be explained by an accidental fall.
Prosecutors also said Lee asked questions suggesting he was trying to figure out how to explain the woman’s injuries and what to say when contacting authorities. District Attorney Coty Wamp told the court the conversations showed Lee asking “how to cover it up” and what to tell a 911 operator.
Investigators said Perpétuo suffered multiple severe injuries inconsistent with a simple accident, including blunt-force trauma, stab wounds, a broken neck, and other signs of violence. Authorities also reported blood evidence throughout the home and indications that parts of the scene had been cleaned.
Lee initially told deputies he found his girlfriend unresponsive and suggested she may have fallen in the shower. However, prosecutors argued that forensic evidence and the alleged AI conversations contradict that explanation.
The 31-year-old former linebacker played college football at Ohio State before being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Over his professional career, he spent time with the Jets, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buffalo Bills.
Lee is currently being held without bond as the case moves forward. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Meanwhile, Perpétuo’s family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit related to her death.
Authorities say the alleged AI messages are now a central piece of evidence in the case — highlighting how digital conversations and technology are increasingly becoming part of modern criminal investigations.
