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Steve McNair’s Background

Steve McNair was an elite NFL quarterback in the 1990s and early 2000s. He started his career playing for the Houston Oilers for 2 seasons before the team relocated to Tennessee. He became a legend during his time there, but ultimately finished his career playing two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

He retired in April 2008.

Off the field, he married his wife, Mechelle, in 1997 and had two sons. McNair also had two sons before from prior relationships.

Relationship with Sahel Kazemi

At some point after he retired, he met Dave & Busters waitress Sahel Kazemi and began a relationship with her, despite being married.

He shared a condo with her in downtown Nashville and purchased an SUV, putting it in both their names.

On July 1st, 2009, Kazemi found used condoms in the bathroom at the condo. Kazemi spoke to a friend about finding the condoms the next day.

At work on July 1st, she was seen talking to an unidentified man for an hour. At 5 pm, she clocked out for a break. She was supposed to be gone for 30 minutes, but didn’t return until 7 pm.

During those two hours, Adrian Gilliam Jr. went to her home, and she asked him about purchasing a gun.

Later that night, McNair contacted Leah Ignagni to go out, but she was unable to do so because her dog was sick.

Kazemi, McNair, and a chef from McNair’s restaurant ended up hanging out at a sports bar in downtown Nashville.

After they left the bar, Kazemi was driving the SUV too fast and was pulled over in the early hours of July 2nd.

McNair was in the passenger seat, and the chef was in the back. Kazemi was arrested for suspicion of driving impaired.

McNair and the chef left the scene in a taxi, but McNair later bailed Kazemi out.

Kazemi spent some time with her ex-boyfriend on the 2nd. McNair spent time with Ignagni in the morning. At some point, he went fishing and returned to Ignagni’s place at 10:30 pm, to spend the night.

Just after 2 am on July 3rd, Kazemi and McNair exchanged several text messages. Kazemi asked McNair, “u love me” he replied, “I love you, baby.”

Between 8 am and 12 pm they exchanged several more texts where Kazemi said she was “stressed” and asked him to send her $2000.

She also complained of having chest pain and said she was thinking about going to the hospital.

Between 3 pm and 4:16 pm she asked about the money again and he told her it was on the way. She also told him, “baby I have to be w u 2nite. I dnt care where.”

She followed that up by saying, “tell me u gonna be w me.”

Sometime between 5 and 6 pm, she met Gilliam in the parking lot at Dave & Buster’s and bought a gun from him.

She and Giliam placed several calls to each other over the course of the night, but it’s unclear what they talked about.

Later that night, McNair put his kids to sleep and hung out with friends at a downtown bar.

On July 4th at 12:38 a.m., McNair texted Kazemi, “On my way.”

He was dropped off at the condo between 1:15 and 1:30 am.

At some point, he fell asleep on the couch, and he was shot twice in the head and twice in the chest. He was dead at just 36 years old.

20-year-old Kazemi sat by his side, then killed herself.

The bodies are found and the investigation moves quickly

At 12:51 pm, Wayne Neely entered the condo and saw the bodies. He called Robert Gaddy, and when Gaddy arrived at the condo, he and Neely both went inside together.

At 1:35 pm, Gaddy called 911.

To the police, it was an open and shut case.

Kazemi did not leave a note behind, but reports indicate that she was worried about her finances and suspected McNair of seeing other women.

Gilliam, who sold her the gun, received 30 months in prison.