Former Ohio State, NFL Linebacker Darron Lee Charged with Murder in Tennessee
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. - Former Ohio State standout and NFL linebacker Darron Lee has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence following the death of a woman in a Tennessee home, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies responded Thursday afternoon to a residence on Snow Cone Way, roughly 25 miles east of Chattanooga, after a report of CPR in progress. When first responders arrived, they found a woman unresponsive and immediately began life-saving efforts. Despite those attempts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released the victim’s identity, pending notification of her family.
Given the condition of both the victim and the home, the sheriff’s office called in detectives from its Criminal Investigative Services Division. Preliminary findings from the investigation point to homicide as the cause of death.
Lee was identified as the suspect and taken into custody at the scene. His date of birth in the Hamilton County booking records aligns with that of the former NFL linebacker listed on ESPN and other official league records.
The investigation remains active, and officials say additional charges may be forthcoming as more details emerge.
Lee is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County court on Wednesday.
This isn’t the first time Lee has faced legal trouble. Court records from Franklin County, Ohio, show he was previously charged in two separate domestic violence incidents-one in October 2022 and another in April 2023.
Lee, who grew up in New Albany, Ohio, made his name as a two-year starter at Ohio State and was a key part of the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship team. His speed and versatility at linebacker helped catapult him into the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, where he was selected by the New York Jets.
After three seasons in New York, Lee spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs during their Super Bowl-winning 2019 season, followed by a stint with the Buffalo Bills in 2020.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus now shifts to the investigation and the court proceedings ahead.