Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee will wait until September 20, 2027 to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his girlfriend.

The 31-year-old former Ohio State star and first-round NFL Draft pick appeared in handcuffs in a Hamilton County, Tennessee courtroom on Thursday, where the trial date was set by judge Barry Steelman. It is common in Tennessee for first-degree murder trials to begin anywhere from 12 to 24 months after the initial charges are filed.

Lee, who remains behind bars, could face the death penalty after allegedly killing his girlfriend, 29-year-old Gabriella Perpétuo, in February. A medical examiner listed Perpétuo’s cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, and the autopsy report listed 12 different injuries, including multiple hematomas, bone fractures and stab wounds.

His attorney Neal Pinkston previously entered a ‘no plea’ during a July hearing. The state of Tennessee recognizes a ‘no plea’ as an effective plea of ‘not guilty.’

Prosecutors have accused Lee of asking ChatGPT how to get medical help without calling the police. Furthermore, he asked the artificial intelligence assistant whether a fall could cause bruising to two eyes and ‘two stabby looking wounds,’ according to evidence presented during preliminary hearings.

Prosecutors also claim Lee asked ChatGPT about injuries that would be consistent with someone falling in the shower. Later, police bodycam footage from the scene showed the former first-round draft pick telling an officer that Perpétuo ‘may have slipped and fallen in the shower’ but denied knowing what happened to her.

Darron Lee appeared in handcuffs in a Hamilton County, Tennessee courtroom on Thursday

Lee potentially faces the death penalty after allegedly killing his girlfriend, 29-year-old Gabriella Perpétuo, in February. Prosecutors say he enlisted ChatGPT to conceal the crime

Gabriella Perpétuo was found murdered in the Tennessee home she shared with Lee

Perpétuo’s mother, Noemia, filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lee shortly after her daughter’s killing.

Madison Sims of Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Local 3 News has reported the family is weighing legal action against the AI company over its alleged involvement in the crime.

‘The defendant in this case engaged ChatGPT to cover up a crime,’ attorney C Mark Warren told Chattanooga, Tennessee’s Local 3 News. ‘We feel like that it’s important that ChatGPT and all AI platforms have guardrails in place where they can engage, but not engage without consequences.’

The Daily Mail sought comment from OpenAI in June, but did not receive a response. It remains unclear if the family wishes to file the lawsuit, and if so, on what grounds.

In February, gruesome details from the crime scene were revealed after prosecutors said that there was ‘blood in just about every room’ at the Tennessee home where Perpétuo was discovered dead.

‘The scene was in disarray,’ Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Lockhart said.

‘You walked in the door, there were boxes. A lot of stuff in the living room. The deceased was on the floor lying on her back.’

‘There was blood going up the staircase, on the hand railing there was blood, on the walls there was blood, on the floor in the living room there was blood, in the floor on the hallway and the stairs… there was blood in just about every room except one,’ Lockhart told the court.

Perpétuo’s mother filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Lee in February

The victim’s body was found at a home near near Ooltewah Elementary School in February

After winning the national championship with Ohio State, Lee was drafted by the New York Jets

Perpétuo was discovered topless and had suffered severe injuries, including severe brain trauma, a broken neck, bruising across her body and a large bite mark on her shoulder and thigh.

She also had stab wounds to her legs, according to the autopsy, which determined that she died from blunt force trauma.

The microwave is said to have been shattered, while glass and alcohol bottles were scattered throughout the home. Detectives discovered cleaning supplies upstairs, including bleach wipes and a spray bottle.

Lee was reportedly the one to call 911 from the home outside of Chattanooga. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

He played 58 games with the Jets, Kansas City and Buffalo between 2016 and 2020. The former Ohio State standout was the 20th pick in the 2016 draft by the Jets after winning a national title with the Buckeyes.

He registered 241 tackles, 17 for a loss and four sacks for the team before he was traded to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

In one season with the Chiefs, Lee produced 31 tackles in 16 games, but did not do enough to earn a new deal. He then played two games for the Buffalo Bills and spent a brief time with the Las Vegas Raiders before being released in 2021.