Darron Lee, a former NFL linebacker who spent five years in the league, has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of his girlfriend.
Lee, 31, was arrested and taken into custody Thursday by Hamilton County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office after deputies were dispatched to a residence where they found a woman who had died following CPR efforts. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of her family.
Preliminary findings from the sheriff’s office indicate that the death resulted from a homicide. Lee, identified as the suspect, has also been charged with tampering with evidence.
Lee is currently held at Hamilton County prison and is scheduled for a court date on February 11.
The former Ohio State standout was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Jets but faced a four-game suspension at the end of that season due to a PED violation. Lee was later traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, where he was part of the team that won Super Bowl LV, though he did not participate in the game itself.
In 2020, Lee was suspended again and signed with the Buffalo Bills, playing in two games that season.
Lee has a history of legal issues, including an arrest in Ohio in 2023 for domestic violence allegations involving his mother and the mother of his son. He entered a plea agreement that included a one-day jail sentence.
