Former NFL Player Accused of Using AI Chatbot in Murder Cover-Up Attempt
Prosecutors in Tennessee have made shocking allegations against former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee, claiming he used the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to seek advice on how to "cover up" the murder of his girlfriend, Gabriella Carvalho Perpetuo. The disturbing revelations emerged during a preliminary hearing this week, painting a chilling picture of how modern technology is intersecting with violent crime.
Disturbing AI Conversations Revealed in Court
According to court documents and testimony presented by prosecutors, Lee engaged in what District Attorney Coty Wamp described as "dozens of conversations" with ChatGPT over a two-day period leading up to the discovery of Perpetuo's body. The former NFL first-round draft pick allegedly asked the AI program specific questions about how to handle the situation without attracting police attention.
One particularly disturbing exchange presented in court showed Lee asking ChatGPT: "Don't know what to do right now. Fiancee 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?"
The AI chatbot reportedly responded with advice on how to handle the situation "without framing it as 'police trouble.'" Prosecutors allege this was part of a pattern of Lee using ChatGPT as what Wamp called a "legal advisor" in the aftermath of the violent incident.
Gruesome Crime Scene Details Emerge
The allegations come in connection with the brutal death of 26-year-old Gabriella Carvalho Perpetuo, whose body was discovered last month in a rental home outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Detective Brian Lockhart testified that the crime scene was particularly gruesome, with blood evidence throughout the residence.
"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," Lockhart told the court. The detective was among the first responders to arrive at the scene where Perpetuo's body was found.
According to police body camera footage presented by prosecutors, Lee initially told officers that Perpetuo suffered from narcolepsy and had fallen in the shower. However, investigators quickly determined that the evidence contradicted this explanation.
Medical Evidence Contradicts Accident Claim
Officials revealed that Perpetuo had suffered multiple horrific injuries inconsistent with an accidental fall. The medical examiner determined her cause of death was blunt force trauma, but she had also sustained:
- Severe brain trauma
- A broken neck
- Multiple stab wounds to her legs
- Significant facial injuries
Police said there was clear evidence of a violent struggle inside the home, and Perpetuo was found topless when authorities arrived. The nature and extent of her injuries directly contradicted Lee's initial claim that she had simply fallen in the shower.
AI Queries About Covering Evidence
Prosecutors presented additional exchanges between Lee and ChatGPT that they say demonstrate his attempt to conceal the crime. In one conversation, Lee allegedly asked if someone slipping and falling could cause "puncture wounds."
ChatGPT reportedly responded: "Yeah, it can happen, but there's [redacted] to make. Can a slip-and-fall cause puncture wounds? Yes, but usually only under specific conditions? I can help you sanity-check whether it lines up with a slip-and-fall or if it's something that should be evaluated ASAP."
District Attorney Wamp emphasized to the court that Lee's conversations with the AI program went far beyond casual inquiry. "He asks how to cover it up. He asks what to say to 911," Wamp stated, characterizing the interactions as systematic attempts to develop a cover story for the violent crime.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties
Darron Lee, 31, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Perpetuo's death. The former NFL linebacker, who played for the New York Jets from 2016 to 2018 and had brief stints with other teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, now faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutors have indicated they intend to pursue capital punishment in this case, highlighting the severity of the allegations and the disturbing use of artificial intelligence in what they characterize as an attempted cover-up. The case represents one of the first high-profile instances where AI technology has been allegedly used in this manner in connection with a violent crime.
The preliminary hearing continues as prosecutors present additional evidence, including more details about Lee's alleged interactions with ChatGPT and forensic evidence from the crime scene. Legal experts note that this case could set important precedents regarding the use of AI conversations as evidence in criminal proceedings.
