The Life of Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Josef Hernandez (November 6, 1989 – April 19, 2017) was an American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). A productive player during his three seasons with the New England Patriots, his career came to an abrupt end after his arrest for the murder of Odin Lloyd. Recognized as an All-American at the University of Florida, Hernandez was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Alongside teammate Rob Gronkowski, he formed one of the league's most dominant tight-end duos, becoming the first pair of tight ends to score at least five touchdowns each in consecutive seasons for the same team. He made one Super Bowl appearance in XLVI. Between 2007 and 2013, Hernandez was implicated, investigated or prosecuted for various violent incidents, including multiple gunshot victims. During the 2013 off-season, Hernandez was arrested and charged for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée. Following his arrest, he was immediately released by the Patriots. Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015 and sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. While on trial for Lloyd's murder, he was also indicted for the 2012 double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, but was acquitted after a 2017 trial. Days after being acquitted of double homicide, Hernandez was found dead in his cell, his death ruled a suicide. His conviction for Lloyd's murder was subsequently vacated because he killed himself during the appeal of the conviction, technically returning him to a state of innocent until (re-)proven guilty. The court's decision to vacate is currently being appealed by the prosecutors and the Lloyd family's attorneys.