Former Super Bowl champion Darron Lee has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his partner, Gabriella Perpetuo. The Hamilton County grand jury returned the indictment on Tuesday, with prosecutors dropping a tampering with evidence charge to concentrate on the more serious allegation, according to Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp.
Murder Charge and Potential Penalty
The state is pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a life sentence. Wamp stated that a decision on whether to seek the death penalty against the 31-year-old will be made in the coming weeks.
Lee is accused of killing 29-year-old Gabriella Perpetuo in February. The medical examiner listed multiple blunt force injuries as the cause of death, with the autopsy report documenting 12 distinct injuries, including hematomas, bone fractures, and stab wounds.
Prior Legal Issues
At the time of his arrest, Lee was on probation in Franklin County, Ohio, and Alachua County, Florida, following charges in three separate alleged assaults involving another man, Lee’s mother, and the mother of his child, according to court records.
ChatGPT Evidence
Prosecutors accused Lee of using ChatGPT to seek advice on obtaining medical help without involving the police. Court evidence showed he asked the AI assistant whether a fall could cause bruising to both eyes and “two stabby looking wounds.”
Lee remains in Hamilton County jail without bond.
NFL Career
Lee was a standout college player at Ohio State before being selected by the New York Jets with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. The Jets signed him to a four-year contract with $7.9 million guaranteed, but he left the team in 2019 due to disciplinary issues and poor performance.
He 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.
