A former NFL player, Darron Lee, is facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpetuo, in Ooltewah, Tennessee.

Authorities revealed in court that Lee allegedly consulted ChatGPT for advice regarding Perpetuo's injuries and the signs of a fall before contacting 911.

The ChatGPT conversations reportedly began on February 4, the day prior to first responders discovering Perpetuo deceased at the residence.

Prosecutors presented messages from these AI interactions during a court hearing, with Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp asserting that Lee was using ChatGPT as a "legal advisor" to conceal a crime scene.

Among the messages shown, Lee asked what to do after his fiancée was unresponsive with two swollen eyes, describing the injuries as "self-inflicted". Another query sought advice on what to tell a friend about handling an unresponsive person while avoiding police involvement.

ChatGPT's response included guidance on handling the situation "without framing it as 'police trouble.'" Lee also specifically inquired about the physical signs of injury from a slip and fall in a bathroom or shower.

Lee informed deputies that Perpetuo might have fallen in the shower, but an arrest affidavit indicates that extensive amounts of blood were found throughout the residence, inconsistent with his statement.

Investigators discovered multiple forms of trauma on Perpetuo's body, including a stab wound to her abdomen, a human bite mark, a large bruise on her head, and black eyes with significant swelling.

A Hamilton County Sheriff's Office detective testified that Perpetuo suffered a severe brain injury and a broken neck. She also had stab wounds on her legs while wearing pants with no cut marks, suggesting the pants may have been put on after the injuries occurred.

Body camera footage showed Lee telling investigators he had been "sleeping a long time" before finding his girlfriend unresponsive.

Crime scene detectives also identified areas where blood had been cleaned, with cleaning supplies found near locations where testing confirmed blood stains despite no visible traces.

Lee, 31, was a first-round draft pick for the New York Jets in 2016, playing 58 games with the Jets, Kansas City, and Buffalo between 2016 and 2020.

At the time of Perpetuo's death, he was on probation in both Florida for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and in Ohio for attempted battery.

Perpetuo's family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Lee, who is currently being held in jail without bond after the judge found probable cause to advance the case.

The combination of AI consultation records, forensic evidence, and Lee's inconsistent statements has formed the core of the prosecution's case against him.