Former First-Round Pick Darron Lee Arrested, Charged with First-Degree Murder
Darron Lee, the former Ohio State linebacker and first-round NFL draft pick, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence following the death of his girlfriend, according to multiple reports.
Authorities in Tennessee responded to a call near Oolteway Elementary School on Thursday, where they discovered a woman suffering from severe injuries. Despite attempts at life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Lee, 31, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody at the residence.
This isn’t the first time Lee has faced legal trouble. In 2023, he was arrested in Dublin, Ohio after an incident involving his child’s mother, Lindsey McGlone, and his own mother, Candice Lee.
According to police reports, McGlone had contacted Candice Lee out of concern for her safety. When Candice arrived at the home and asked Darron to leave, she told police he became violent-allegedly pushing her into a wall before striking her multiple times in the face and back of the head.
Officers noted visible swelling on her left cheek.
McGlone also told police that on a separate occasion, Lee allegedly threatened her and their child, saying he would kill them. These prior allegations paint a troubling picture of escalating behavior that has now culminated in a murder charge.
Lee’s football career began with immense promise. A 6-foot-1, 232-pound force at linebacker, he played a key role in Ohio State’s 2015 national championship run. That performance helped propel him into the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, where the New York Jets selected him 20th overall.
He spent three seasons with the Jets before brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Raiders. Lee has been out of the league since 2021.
Once viewed as a rising star on the field, Lee’s post-NFL life has taken a dark and tragic turn. The legal process will now determine the full extent of accountability in this case, but the situation marks a sobering chapter in the life of a player who once stood atop the college football world.