Former NFL LB Darron Lee could face death penalty, prosecutor says

Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee possibly faces the death penalty in his first-degree murder case following the death of his girlfriend last week in Tennessee.

Lee remained in jail without bond on Wednesday after his bond hearing in Hamilton County (Tenn.) Criminal Court following his arrest last Thursday. Lee, 31, is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with or fabricating evidence.

He has a preliminary hearing schedule for March 9.

The victim, identified by authorities as Gabriella Carvalho Perpetuo, was found dead by first responders at the couple's rental home in the small town of Ooltewah, Tenn, about 20 minutes from Lee's hometown of Chattanooga.

Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp said in court on Wednesday that evidence against Lee includes two "aggravating factors" that would qualify Lee for capital punishment, NewsChannel9.com reported. Wamp later told the station's reporter that no decision has been made on whether the death penalty will be pursued.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Detective Brian Lockhart testified Wednesday that he attended Perpetuo's autopsy and was informed the potential cause of death is blunt force trauma homicide. The autopsy report had yet to be released as of Wednesday.

Paramedics had arrived on the scene on Feb. 5 in Ooltewah and attempted live-saving measures, however the victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Lee was identified as a suspect and taken into custody.

Lee told investigators that Perpetuo had narcolepsy and likely fell in the shower. Lockhart's testimony at the bond hearing challenged that conclusion.

Lockhart said the victim sustained "severe injuries, including severe brain trauma, a broken neck, bruising across her body, a large bite mark on her shoulder and thigh, stab wounds to her legs and significant facial trauma."

One of the first investigators on the scene, Lockhart provided a graphic description on Wednesday of what he saw at the home.

"There was blood going up the staircase, on the hand railing there was blood, on the walls there was blood, on the floor in the living room there was blood, in the floor on the hallway and the stairs ... there was blood in just about every room except one," Lockhart testified.

He also said that a microwave oven was shattered, with broken glass scattered throughout the home. He said the "scene was in disarray."

Lee previously faced legal issues in 2023, when he was charged with two counts of domestic violence and two counts of assault. He also was charged with a felony drug possession charge when he failed to show up for his court date related to that case later in the year. He pleaded guilty to two lesser counts in 2025.

After winning a national championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2014, Lee was selected 20th overall by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

In addition to 40 games with the Jets, Lee made 16 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, as well as two for the Buffalo Bills in 2020. He accumulated 273 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions over his five-year career, starting 38 of the 58 games he played.