A former NFL star from Tennessee was arrested last month for allegedly murdering his girlfriend. Prosecutors have since revealed new details about the case, accusing him of asking ChatGPT how to cover up his alleged crime.
As reported by NBC News, the incident occurred back on February 5. According to the authorities, 29-year-old Gabriella Perpetuo was found dead in an Ooltewah home in Tennessee, which she shared with former NFL star Darron Lee, 30.
An autopsy report detailed multiple injuries found in Perpetuo’s body, including stab wounds, abrasions, hematomas, and a fracture to her cervical spine, WDEF reported. Additionally, a blood reagent revealed blood in various areas of the home, as per WRCB.
When the police arrived after Lee called 911, as shown in body camera footage, Lee told a responding officer that he had found Perpetuo unresponsive. According to him, he had been sleeping for “a long time.” Then, he theorized that his girlfriend had fallen in the shower.
Injuries, however, were found to be inconsistent with a simple fall. Then, the Hamilton County Medical Examiner determined Perpetuo’s cause of death as blunt force trauma. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide. Lee was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
ChatGPT Allegations
Weeks after the incident occurred, Lee’s preliminary hearing was held. Evidence shared by prosecutors showed that the Tennessee man, under the name “Xander Lee,” chatted with ChatGPT. He called OpenAI’s tool “Allie.” This back and forth ocurred after Lee allegedly murdered Perpetuo.
“Don’t know what to do right now,” he is accused of telling the AI assistant. “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?“
Dozens of conversations revealed that Lee had talked to ChatGPT about what he did to Perpetuo during the span of two days and how to cover it up, District Attorney Coty Wamp alleged in court, ABC 9 reported. Among these messages, the AI assistant instructed how to “handle” the situation “without framing it as ‘police trouble,’” prosecutors said.
Online reactions were of shock after learning the case’s most recent details. One person wrote, “National Felon League strikes again. Sad.” Another added, “This guy has been a time bomb waiting to go off.” A third commenter added, “That girl was gorgeous, so much life to live.”
Jury Tori Smith determined there was enough evidence for the case to be handed to a grand jury. The former New York Jets linebacker was ordered to remain held at the Hamilton County Jail without bond until his trial.
