Former New York Jets linebacker and Super Bowl champion Darron Lee was charged with murder on Thursday following the death of his girlfriend in Tennessee, according to local authorities. Lee was taken into custody in Hamilton County after deputies responded to what was initially reported as a medical emergency at a residence in Ooltewah.
First responders were performing CPR on a woman at the scene when they arrived, but she could not be saved. Local outlet WTVC NewsChannel 9 reported that the woman suffered a suspected stab wound along with other injuries. Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s name, but confirmed she was Lee’s girlfriend and that the death is being investigated as a homicide.
Lee is also facing an additional charge of evidence tampering. According to reporting cited by WTVC, investigators believe there were attempts to clean blood from multiple areas inside the residence. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said detectives from Criminal Investigative Services responded due to the condition of both the victim and the home.
“Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, HCSO Criminal Investigative Services Detectives responded,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Preliminary findings indicate the victim’s death was the result of a homicide.”
Lee rose to national prominence during his college career at Ohio State, where he was widely viewed as one of the top defensive players in the country. The New York Jets selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and signed him to a four year contract worth nearly $8 million in guaranteed money.
His NFL career later included time with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of the roster that won the Super Bowl in February 2020, though he did not appear in the game itself. Lee’s final NFL appearance came in November 2020 when he played for the Buffalo Bills.
Lee’s professional career was marked by both on field performance and disciplinary issues, which contributed to his departure from the Jets in 2019. After brief stops with other teams, he eventually stepped away from the league.
Lee is scheduled to appear in court on February 11 as the case moves forward through the legal system. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the investigation or what prosecutors may present as evidence during future court proceedings.
The post Former Kansas City Chief, Super Bowl Champion Darron Lee Charged With Girlfriend’s Murder appeared first on Real News Now.
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