Former Super Bowl champion Darron Lee has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpetuo. The indictment was returned by a grand jury in Hamilton County on Tuesday. Prosecutors dismissed a tampering with evidence charge to focus solely on the more serious allegation, according to Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp.
Prosecutors Seek First-Degree Murder Conviction
The state is pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a life sentence. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty against the 31-year-old will be made in the coming weeks, Wamp said.
Details of the Case
Lee is accused of killing Perpetuo in February. A medical examiner listed the 29-year-old’s cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. The autopsy report documented 12 different injuries, including multiple hematomas, bone fractures, and stab wounds.
At the time of Lee’s arrest, he was on probation in Franklin County, Ohio, and Alachua County, Florida, after being charged in three separate alleged assaults involving another man, Lee’s mother, and the mother of his child, according to court records.
ChatGPT Messages as Key Evidence
Prosecutors accused Lee of asking ChatGPT how to get medical help without calling the police. He asked the AI assistant whether a fall could cause bruising to both eyes and “two stabby looking wounds,” according to evidence presented in court. Lee remains in the Hamilton County jail without bond.
Lee’s NFL Career
Lee was one of the top college players in the country during his time at Ohio State. The New York Jets selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, signing him to a four-year contract that included $7.9 million guaranteed. However, he left the team in 2019 after disciplinary problems and poor performance.
Lee was part of the Kansas City Chiefs roster that won the Super Bowl in February 2020, though he did not play in the game. His final NFL appearance came in November 2020 for the Buffalo Bills.
