Former NFL first-round pick Darron Lee charged with violent and horrific murder of his girlfriend
In a shocking turn of events, former NFL linebacker 31-year-old Darron Lee, a first-round draft pick with the New York Jets in 2016, was arrested and jailed without bond on a murder charge following the violent death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Carvalho Perpétuo. The girlfriend was found dead in a home earlier this month in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
Lee, who had been in a relationship with Perpétuo, was arrested at the scene. He has since been charged with first-degree murder in his girlfriend’s death; and he also faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating evidence, according to The Associated Press. Prosecutors say evidence found at the scene of the crime includes aggravating factors that would qualify seeking the death penalty against the former linebacker.
Prosecutors also said that at the time of his arrest, Lee was on probation in both Florida and Ohio for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery and attempted batteries. Regarding Perpétuo’s death:
“Mr. Lee was in a home with a female that was, for lack of a better term, beaten to death,” Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp said in court, arguing for the judge to withhold bond. “And the explanation that he gave doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.” ~ AP News
In describing the crime scene, officials said the rented home was found to be in a state that was chaotic and violent, with blood found in every room of the home of the home, except one. Kitchen appliances were smashed and shattered and glass found scattered throughout the residence.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Lockhart testified in court that 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.” The cause of death was blunt force trauma, according to NBC Sports.
Lockhart also testified that Perpétuo had a severe brain injury and a broken neck. She had more stab wounds on her legs while wearing pants without cut marks, suggesting the pants were put on afterward, according to The Associated Press.
Initially, Lee had a promising career beginning in 2016 with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. He spent three years with the Jets, one with the Chiefs, and one with the Buffalo Bills. His last season of play was in 2020.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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