Ex-NFL player consulted ChatGPT for crime scene cover-up advice, prosecutors allege

Tennessee prosecutors have alleged that former NFL linebacker Darron Lee turned to ChatGPT for advice on how to handle and potentially cover up the circumstances surrounding his girlfriend’s death before calling 911, according to court testimony and messages shown in court.

According to local news outlet KTVC, prosecutors say Lee exchanged dozens of messages with the AI tool over a multi‑day period in the days surrounding the Feb. 5, 2025, death of his 29‑year‑old girlfriend, Gabriella Perpétuo, in the couple’s home in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

“What do I do?” one of the alleged messages read, as Lee sought guidance on how to handle the situation without involving law enforcement, prosecutors told the judge. Prosecutors also presented an AI-generated response instructing Lee on specific wording to minimize potential legal consequences.

In the AI prompts displayed in court, Lee reportedly asked ChatGPT how to explain injuries to Perpétuo — including “two swollen eyes” and what he described as stab‑like wounds — and what to do when she was unresponsive, portraying the situation as self‑inflicted.

During the March 9 preliminary hearing in Hamilton County Court, District Attorney Coty Wamp argued that Lee treated ChatGPT as “a legal advisor” and “a defense attorney,” using the AI assistant to construct narratives and explanations that could help him account for Perpétuo’s injuries and avoid criminal scrutiny.

Lee said he woke up and found Perpétuo dead

The court also heard from law enforcement about Lee’s initial statements to deputies, in which he claimed to have been asleep and unsure what had occurred before finding Perpétuo unresponsive. Body camera footage shown in court captured Lee saying he woke to find her non‑responsive and immediately called 911.

According to prosecutors, the ChatGPT interactions preceded the emergency call by hours, raising questions about Lee’s account of the timeline and his intentions. Additional digital evidence was recovered from Lee’s phone, tying him to the AI conversations.

What are Darron Lee’s charges?

Lee, 31, has been charged with first‑degree murder and tampering with or fabricating evidence in connection with Perpétuo’s death. Authorities allege Perpétuo suffered severe trauma, and investigators found the home in disarray with signs of violence.

Prosecutors have not ruled out seeking the death penalty if Lee is convicted. At the preliminary hearing, a judge denied bond. In addition to the criminal charges, Perpétuo’s family has filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Lee seeking $50 million in damages.

Before these legal troubles, Lee was a highly regarded football player. A standout at Ohio State University, he helped Ohio State win a national championship in 2014 and was viewed as a promising young linebacker at the professional level.

Lee was selected 20th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He also had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders during his NFL career, which concluded in the early 2020s.