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Former NFL player Darron Lee indicted on first-degree murder charge
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- Former NFL player Darron Lee indicted on first-degree murder charge
Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his girlfriend.
The indictment was returned June 9 by a grand jury in Hamilton County (Tennessee). It came after prosecutors dismissed a tampering with evidence charge, as Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp explained.
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"The State dismissed the tampering with evidence charge," Wamp told WTVC . "We will focus solely on the murder."
Prosecutors are pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which could result in a life sentence if Lee is found guilty. A decision on whether to pursue the death penalty will be made in the coming weeks.
Lee stands accused of killing his partner , who was found dead in a rented home in Ooltewah, Tennessee, east of Chattanooga. First responders "attempted life-saving measures" on the female victim upon arriving at the scene but were unsuccessful.
Lee was identified as a suspect and was taken into custody. He was denied bond after detective Brian Lockhart testified in February that Lee was in the rented home when the Sheriff's Office deputies arrived and said that his girlfriend likely fell in the shower due to her narcolepsy.
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Investigators said the evidence did not match Lee's description. Lockhart testified an autopsy showed Lee's girlfriend suffered "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."
Detectives also found cleaning supplies – including bleach wipes and a spray bottle – in the Ooltewah residence. That's what led to the initial tampering with evidence charge, which was later dropped.
According to WTVC , prosecutors presented evidence including body camera footage, testimony from investigators and evidence recovered from electronic devices during a preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors also accused Lee of asking ChatGPT – an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot – for medical advice without calling the police, per ESPN . That included a question about whether a fall could cause bruising around the eyes and "two stabby looking wounds."
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Lee remains in the Hamilton County Jail and is being held without bond, according to court records . The 31-year-old is next due to appear in court on June 17.
After breaking out for Ohio State as a redshirt sophomore, Lee declared for the 2016 NFL Draft and was selected No. 20 overall by the New York Jets. He started 36 games in three years with the team but largely struggled during his tenure with the organization.
Shortly after declining his fifth-year option in May 2019, the Jets traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round draft pick. He started two games but primarily chipped in as a backup and special teams contributor for the eventual Super Bowl 54 champions, who opted against re-signing him in the ensuing offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darron Lee indicted on first-degree murder charge
