A former NFL first-round draft pick charged with first-degree murder allegedly turned to artificial intelligence for help in the hours after his girlfriend’s death, prosecutors told a court.
Authorities say former linebacker Darron Lee asked ChatGPT how to “cover up” the death after the woman was found with multiple stab wounds and signs of a violent beating.
Prosecutors say Lee, 31, sent the generative AI chatbot the following message:
“Don’t know what to do right now. Fiancee [sic] 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, slit her eye? Idk but she isn’t waking up or responding, what do I do?”
Lee appeared in a Tennessee courtroom Monday as the case against him moved forward following his February arrest in Hamilton County. Authorities say the former New York Jets first-round draft pick killed his girlfriend inside the couple’s home near Chattanooga.
Prosecutors: Lee searched for ways to hide the crime
During the hearing, prosecutors said investigators uncovered evidence showing Lee asked ChatGPT questions about how to cover up a killing after the woman’s death. The alleged queries were part of the digital evidence authorities say they recovered while building the case against him.
Investigators argue the searches indicate Lee was attempting to figure out how to conceal evidence or avoid detection, a claim prosecutors are using to support the additional charge that he tampered with evidence after the killing.
Brutal scene discovered by investigators
Authorities say deputies were called to the home after a report of a medical emergency and found the victim severely injured. Despite efforts by first responders to revive her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators later described a chaotic and violent crime scene. Testimony in court indicated there was blood in multiple rooms throughout the house, contradicting Lee’s initial explanation that the woman may have been injured in an accidental fall.
Detectives also said evidence suggested someone had attempted to clean blood from parts of the home, which prosecutors say supports their claim that Lee tried to conceal the crime.
As the New York Post reported, Lee has previously faced legal trouble stemming from incidents involving women:
This is not the first time that Lee has been arrested, with the linebacker being booked for assault and domestic violence in Ohio in 2023.
Lee pushed a woman “against the wall, throwing her to the floor and striking her face and head 8 to 9 times with his closed fists,” according to the 2023 arrest report.
He then placed “his hand around her neck and lifting up, and dropping her on the ground,” the arrest report said.
He was found guilty in the incident and was issued a no-contact order from the state, court records viewed by The Post show.
From NFL draft pick to murder suspect
Lee was once considered a rising defensive star. He was selected 20th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets after a standout career at Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes win a national championship.
During his NFL career, Lee played for the Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills, and was part of the Chiefs roster during their Super Bowl LIV championship season.
Facing life-or-death legal consequences
Lee remains in custody without bond as the case proceeds through the courts. Prosecutors say the charges could qualify for the death penalty, though they have not yet made a final determination.
For now, he faces first-degree murder and evidence tampering charges, with the possibility of additional charges as the investigation continues.
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