The name Darron Lee was trending again this week for a reason far removed from football. Prosecutors in Tennessee say the former New York Jets first-round pick turned to ChatGPT in the hours after his girlfriend was found dead inside their home. The messages are now central evidence in a first-degree murder case that has pulled artificial intelligence into the middle of a homicide investigation.
Lee, 31, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo, at the couple’s residence in Ooltewah, Tennessee in February 2026. Authorities say what happened next was unusual even for modern criminal investigations. Instead of calling police immediately, prosecutors say Lee spent time messaging an AI chatbot and asking how to explain what had happened.
Darron Lee ChatGPT Messages Revealed In Court
During a preliminary hearing in Hamilton County, prosecutors read portions of messages they say came directly from Lee’s phone. According to investigators, the former NFL linebacker had dozens of exchanges with ChatGPT over roughly two days while his girlfriend lay dead inside the home.
One of the prompts presented in court was striking. Lee allegedly wrote:
“Don’t know what to do right now. Fiancée did her crazy thing again and now she’s messed up. I wake up and she has two swollen eyes. I didn’t do anything. Self inflicted. She stabbed herself… she isn’t waking up or responding. What do I do?”
Prosecutors told the court that Lee treated the chatbot like a digital advisor while trying to figure out how to frame the situation. District Attorney Coty Wamp said the messages show Lee asking the AI what to tell emergency responders and whether certain injuries could be explained as accidents.
Another exchange presented during the hearing included Lee asking whether a fall in the shower could cause puncture wounds. Investigators argue the questions suggest he was testing explanations before contacting authorities.
Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo Death Investigation
Police were called to the home on February 5 after Lee reported his girlfriend was unresponsive. Deputies arrived to find Perpétuo dead inside the residence. The condition of the home raised immediate suspicion.
Detectives testified that blood evidence appeared throughout multiple rooms. Investigators also reported signs of a violent struggle and evidence that someone had attempted to clean parts of the scene.
The autopsy findings were severe. Medical examiners reported blunt force trauma, a broken neck, brain injuries, stab wounds, and bite marks on Perpétuo’s body. Prosecutors say those injuries were inconsistent with Lee’s initial explanation that she may have slipped and fallen.
Authorities believe the digital conversations with ChatGPT occurred before or around the time Lee eventually called 911. That timeline is why prosecutors now consider the messages one of the most important pieces of evidence in the case.
Darron Lee Murder Charge And Possible Penalties
Lee has been charged with first degree murder and tampering with evidence. He is currently being held without bond while the case moves through the Tennessee court system.
If convicted, the penalties could be severe. Tennessee law allows life imprisonment, life without parole, or the death penalty for first degree murder. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek capital punishment depending on how the case develops.
The case has also led to a separate civil lawsuit. Members of Perpétuo’s family have filed a wrongful death claim seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages.
Darron Lee NFL Career Before The Arrest
Before the criminal case, Lee was known primarily for his football career. The linebacker starred at Ohio State and helped the Buckeyes win the 2014 national championship before entering the NFL Draft.
The New York Jets selected Lee with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 draft. Over four seasons in the league he appeared in 59 games and recorded more than 300 tackles while also playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
His playing career ended earlier in the decade, and the recent allegations have returned his name to national headlines for reasons far removed from the field.
Now the focus has shifted from football statistics to digital evidence. Prosecutors say Lee’s own online messages may help explain what happened inside that Tennessee home, and the role of ChatGPT in the investigation has turned the case into one of the most unusual intersections of artificial intelligence and criminal law.
