Stab Wound, Bitemark Found on Victim Allegedly Killed by Former NFL Player Darron Lee
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
MORE: We have also learned the identity of the victim in this case.
According to a GoFundMe by a cousin, they say that Gabriella Perpetuo was the victim, saying she had suffered domestic violence and abuse.
They say that her parents are in Florida attempting to make arrangements for her funeral as she was living here in Tennessee, and that friends and family are devastated.
They plan to get an attorney according to the GoFundMe and hope that justice is served.
We also spoke with a neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, who filmed Lee being removed from the home.
They say that Lee and Perpetuo were very private, as they had only moved in less than three weeks ago.
They said, “We didn’t even know that somebody was living in there, they were not even pulling their trash cans down to the curb to be taken out… It’s a very friendly neighborhood and so it was definitely kind of odd, very very odd. You know we even talked about it the past couple weeks.”
They added how much the incident has shaken them up, stating, “We expected this to be a quiet neighborhood, but seeing this all go down, it’s shocking.”
Lee will be in court on Wednesday.
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OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) — Swollen eyes, a stab wound to the torso and a bitemark found on a victim are some of the injuries recalled by an affidavit related to the arrest of former NFL player Darron Lee.
Around 1:30 p.m. on February 5, deputies were dispatched to the 7500 block of Snow Cone Way in Ooltewah for a CPR in progress. Upon arrival, first responders determined the victim was deceased.
Lee told deputies that he located the victim unconscious on the couch, however, deputies noticed there was no forced entry into the home and there was shattered glass in the kitchen area.
Lee also told deputies he thought the victim fell in the shower, however, an affidavit says there was blood in several parts of the residence that was not consistent with Lee’s statements. Abnormalities include blood spatter on the wall and flooring of some locations as well as cleaning materials in abnormal places.
Lee was subsequently detained and declined to speak with detectives.
A search warrant was executed around 6:30 p.m. on February 5.
The victim was said to have multiple types of trauma to her body, including a “one inch long penetrating stab wound to the abdomen, a large dark bruise to her head, black eyes with heavy swelling, multiple bruises on her arms and torso, what appeared to be a large, circular human bitemark to the shoulder, and dried blood on her face and neck.”
Evidence was collected and alcohol, narcotics and a firearm were located.
Crime scene detectives found suspected blood evidence has been attempted to be cleaned.
Darron Lee was charged with first degree murder following his presence at the residence, demeanor and injuries.
