How do you mess up your life so badly? Aaron Hernandez had a lot going
for him. He was a popular athlete, good looking, had a fiancee, had a
daughter, he was young, considered one of the top
tight ends in professional American football, had a mansion, had a
$40million contract, had a standout career ahead of him and he went and
killed someone? Maybe even three people.
The Former New England Patriots was convicted of
first-degree murder yesterday April 15th and was sentenced to life in
prison without a possibility of parole. He will spend the remainder of
his natural life in prison. How sad is this? He had a promising future
but couldn't leave gang life alone.
The 25 year old was found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting
death of Odin Lloyd, a 27yr old landscaper and amateur weekend football
player who was dating his fiancee's sister.
Hernandez's mother, Terri, and his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, cried and
gasped when they heard the verdict. Hernandez, his eyes red, mouthed to
them: "Be strong. Be strong." Lloyd's mother also cried.
Read all about his ordeal below from his Wikipedia page
T
rials for murder and shootings
2012 Boston double homicide
Hernandez was investigated in connection with a double murder that took place on July 16, 2012, in Boston's South End
when Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu, 29, and Safiro Teixeira Furtado,
28, both of Dorchester, were killed by gunshots fired into their
vehicle. On May 15, 2014, Hernandez was indicted on murder charges for the killings of Abreu and Furtado,
with additional charges of armed assault and attempted murder
associated with shots fired at the surviving occupants in the vehicle.
2013 Miami shooting lawsuit
On June 13, 2013, Alexander S. Bradley, described as a friend of Hernandez's,
filed a lawsuit against Hernandez in a Florida federal court. Bradley
claimed that on February 13, 2013, Hernandez had shot him while the two
were riding in a car on Interstate 95 in Palm Beach County, following an altercation at a Miami strip club;
Bradley alleged that he lost his right eye as a result. When police
came to assist Bradley, he declined to name his assailant, and no arrest
was made at the time. Bradley's lawsuit was dismissed on June 17, 2013,
as a result of incorrect paperwork, and refiled on June 19, 2013.
On September 3, 2013, Hernandez's lawyers filed a postponement
request in federal court until his murder charges were resolved. They
said it would be legally unfair to Hernandez to permit the lawsuit to
continue while he is defending himself in the shooting death of
27-year-old Odin Lloyd.
2013 murder of Odin Lloyd (pictured below)
On June 18, 2013, the police searched Hernandez's house in North Attleboro for
several hours in connection with an investigation into the shooting
death of a friend, Odin Lloyd. Lloyd's body was found in an industrial
park about a mile away from Hernandez's house with multiple gunshot
wounds to the back and chest.[42][43] The Massachusetts State Police
obtained a search warrant after evidence surfaced that Hernandez
intentionally destroyed his home security system. A cell phone belonging
to Hernandez was turned over to police "in pieces" and Hernandez
allegedly hired a "team of house cleaners" the same day Lloyd's body was
discovered, raising additional suspicion.[44]
On June 20, 2013, the Boston Herald reported the Patriots had "barred"
Hernandez from Gillette Stadium.[45] According to NFL.com, Patriots
owner Robert Kraft decided to have Patriots staff ask Hernandez to leave
because he did not want Gillette to be "the site of a media stakeout".
However, the Boston Globe reported that the Patriots front office had
decided days before Hernandez's arrest that if Hernandez were arrested
on any charge related to the case, even an obstruction of justice
charge, he would be released.
On June 26, 2013, Hernandez was taken from his home in handcuffs and
into police custody. The Patriots released Hernandez about 90
minutes later, before officially knowing the charges against him.
Their press release stated:
A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to
the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the
disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a
result of this investigation. We realize that law enforcement
investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts
and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is
simply the right thing to do.
Later that day, Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder, in
addition to five gun-related charges; he was held without bail at the
Bristol County Jail.
Two other men were also arrested in connection with Lloyd's death:
Carlos Ortiz, on June 27, 2013, and Ernest Wallace on June 28,2013.
Ortiz revealed to the police that Hernandez had secretly rented an
apartment in Franklin, Massachusetts. A subsequent search of the
apartment, according to the Associated Press, "turned up ammunition and
clothing that police believe could be evidence in the murder case
against him".
On August 22, 2013, Aaron Hernandez was indicted by a grand jury for the
murder of Odin Lloyd. On September 6, 2013, he was arraigned and pled
not guilty to first-degree murder. He was held without bail but reserved
the right to request bail later.
On September 27, 2013, Jenkins was indicted on a perjury charge in connection with Lloyd's killing.
On April 15, 2015, Hernandez was found guilty of murder in the first
degree, a charge that automatically carries a sentence of life in prison
without a possibility of parole, as well as five firearm charges.
Hernandez did not face the death penalty, as the state of Massachusetts
abolished the death penalty in 1984.