Former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee has been charged with first-degree murder.
According to a report from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office obtained by Chattanooga’s ABC9, deputies arrested Lee on Thursday after finding his girlfriend dead inside a home near Tennessee's Ooltewah Elementary School.
The HCSO report states deputies were dispatched to the residence after receiving a call that CPR was in progress on an adult female. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, HCSO called in detectives from its Criminal Investigations Services unit. Investigators determined the woman’s death was the result of a homicide and identified Lee as the primary suspect, leading to his arrest.
Lee has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Per an affidavit obtained by ABC9, investigators documented multiple injuries to the victim at the scene, including a suspected stab wound to the abdomen, severe bruising to her head and eyes, bruises on her arms and torso and what appeared to be a human bite mark on her shoulder.
Lee told deputies he found her unconscious on the couch and believed she may have fallen in the shower, but investigators said the amount and location of blood did not match Lee’s explanation. Cleaning supplies were also found in abnormal places, and Lee had injuries consistent with a physical struggle, including injuries to his face, hands, and chest.
Lee played at Ohio State from 2013-15 and started at linebacker for the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship team. He was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft by the New York Jets and spent five seasons in the NFL with the Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
Since the end of his NFL career, Lee has faced multiple legal issues. In April 2023, Dublin (Ohio) police arrested him and charged him with two counts of domestic violence and two counts of assault. After Lee failed to appear in court, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Lee was also charged with cocaine possession by Dublin police in September 2023.
Lee avoided a domestic violence conviction through a plea deal in February 2025, according to documents obtained by The Columbus Dispatch.
