Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of his girlfriend, a Hamilton County grand jury decided Tuesday.

Lee, a former first-round draft pick, faces charges in the death of Gabriela Carvalho Perpétuo. Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp confirmed that prosecutors dismissed a tampering with evidence charge to focus on the murder allegation.

According to prosecutors, Perpétuo died from blunt force injuries. The case has drawn attention partly due to prosecutors citing ChatGPT messages as key evidence, though details about these communications have not been publicly released.

Lee played linebacker in the NFL after being selected as a first-round draft pick. He was part of a Super Bowl championship team during his professional career before retiring from football.

The indictment represents a significant escalation in the case, moving from the initial evidence tampering charge to the more serious murder allegation. The Hamilton County district attorney's office has not provided additional details about the timeline of events or circumstances surrounding Perpétuo's death.

Lee's case will now proceed through the Hamilton County court system as he faces the first-degree murder charge.