Content warning: Readers may find some of the details in this story disturbing.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A former NFL player charged with first degree murder in Ooltewah made his first appearance in a Hamilton County courtroom this morning.
A judge had to decide whether or not Darron Lee would be granted a bond.
Lee played for Ohio State in college before being drafted by the New York Jets in the first round in 2016, then played in the league for five years.
A Hamilton County Sheriff’s Detective testified in a Hamilton County courtroom on Wednesday morning the disturbing nature of the scene where Gabriella Perpétuo was found dead.
That led to the arrest of Darron Lee, who District Attorney Coty Wamp says has shown a pattern of violence.
She said, “Not only is he a danger to this community, he’s a danger to communities in Ohio and Florida. I would argue that based on his convictions, he’s a danger to women.”
These strong words from Attorney General Wamp capped off the bond hearing where we learned new details about the crime scene inside of the Snow Cone Way home.
Hamilton County detective Brian Lockhart described his response to that home after first responders became suspicious following attempted CPR on Perpetuo.
Detective Lockhart said, “The scene was in disarray. You walk in the door, there was boxes and just a lot of stuff in the living room. The deceased was in the living room floor, laying on her back.”
He went on to testify that Perpetuo suffered numerous injuries including blunt force trauma, a stab wound, and a broken neck among other injuries.
Detective Lockhart said that Lee had attempted to clean up the scene, and called 911 himself.
However, investigators used Bluestar, a chemical that lights up blue when it comes into contact with residual blood, to make a horrific discovery.
Detective Lockhart said, “There was blue throughout the whole hallway. You can see drag marks through the hallway into the bathroom that was glowing blue.”
He testified that the pair were in a relationship, and had just moved to Ooltewah from Florida ten days before her death.
Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp says that her office is weighing potentially prosecuting the death penalty in this case.
She cited that Lee is on probation for previous violent incidents in both Ohio and Florida, which a Tennessee Department of Corrections official testified that he had not registered he had moved to Tennessee.
She argued to Hamilton County Judge Tori Smith that Lee should not be granted a bond due to these repeat offenses and his potential resources as a former NFL player.
District Attorney Wamp said, “This is a case the court can assume that if you were to allow him to make a bond in Tennessee, we know we would lose him to another state.”
Lee was represented by public defender Mike Little, who argued that Lee should get a bond.
Little said, “Bonds are set all the time of people charged with homicide or first degree murder. When they have previous felonies… this is being treated differently.”
Judge Smith ruled in favor of the prosecution, denying Lee a bond.
The next step in this case will be the preliminary hearing held here at Judge Tori Smith’s courtroom.
That is going to be held in March.
Lee will continue to be held at the Hamilton County Jail.
