You know, I remember watching Aaron Hernandez play for the Patriots back in 2012. Dude was unstoppable on the field - that Super Bowl run, Gronk and him tearing up defenses. Then poof. He vanished from the spotlight faster than you could say "touchdown." If you've landed here wondering what happened to Aaron Hernandez, buckle up because this story takes more twists than a Tom Brady pass.
The Short Version
In case you're pressed for time: Hernandez was arrested in 2013 for murdering his friend Odin Lloyd, got life without parole in 2015, then hanged himself in prison in 2017. Days later, doctors found severe brain damage (CTE) usually seen in elderly boxers. His legal saga continued even after death.
Who Was Aaron Hernandez Before Everything Went Wrong?
Let's rewind. Grew up in Bristol, Connecticut. Mom was a secretary, dad was a local sports legend who died unexpectedly when Aaron was 16. That messed him up bad. People who knew him say he started hanging with sketchy crowds after that.
Football talent? Insane. High school star → University of Florida standout → drafted by the Patriots in 2010 (4th round steal). Signed a $40 million extension in 2012. Had a fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, and a baby daughter. From the outside? Living the dream.
Red Flags Everyone Missed
- 2007 bar fight (Gainesville): Punched a manager, settled out of court
- 2012 double homicide (Boston): Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado shot dead - later linked to Hernandez
- 2013 assault: Punched a prison guard during a visit to his cousin
Funny how teams ignore red flags when you're catching touchdowns. Patriots cut him minutes after his arrest in 2013. Cold.
The Odin Lloyd Murder: What Actually Went Down
June 17, 2013. Odin Lloyd's body found in an industrial park near Hernandez's mansion. Dude was dating Shaneah Jenkins - sister of Hernandez's fiancée Shayanna. That's right, sisters dating best friends. Messy.
Evidence pile was mountain-high:
| Evidence Type | What They Found | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Surveillance | Home security footage | Showed Hernandez holding gun hours before murder |
| Forensics | Shell casings at scene | Matched .45 caliber found in Hernandez's rental car |
| Witnesses | Carlos Ortiz testimony | Placed Hernandez at crime scene with Lloyd |
| Physical | Chewing gum on shell casing | DNA matched Hernandez |
Why'd he do it? Theories range from Lloyd knowing too much about the 2012 double homicide to a nightclub argument days earlier. Hernandez never testified. We'll never know for sure.
Prison Time and the Shocking Suicide
Suffolk County's Nashua Street Jail first, then maximum-security Souza-Baranowski. Reports say he converted to Mormonism and wrote Bible verses on his cell walls. Also got multiple disciplinary write-ups.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 14, 2015 | Convicted of 1st-degree murder |
| April 15, 2017 | Acquitted of double homicide |
| April 19, 2017 | Found hanged in cell |
That suicide timing? Suspicious as hell. Five days after being cleared of the double murders. Some say he couldn't face life in prison after tasting freedom. Others think prison gangs were involved. Guards found him with John 3:16 written on his forehead and blood on his hands. Creepy stuff.
The CTE Bombshell
Boston University researchers studied Hernandez's brain post-suicide. Found Stage 3 CTE (second-worst level possible). Normally seen in 60-year-olds, not 27-year-olds. Doctors said it likely caused:
- Impulse control issues
- Violent outbursts
- Paranoia
Not excusing murder, but makes you wonder how much football contributed to his downfall. League settled CTE lawsuits for $1 billion around that time. Coincidence?
Legal Chaos After Death
Massachusetts has this weird law called "abatement ab initio" - if you die during appeal, your conviction gets erased. So technically, Hernandez died an innocent man. Lloyd's mom sued the estate anyway and got $5 million.
Wait, His Family Still Got Paid?
Yep. Patriots had to pay $2.5 million signing bonus to his estate because he wasn't convicted when he died. Brutal for Lloyd's family to see that.
Unanswered Questions That Still Haunt People
Even after all these years, nobody's explained:
- Why did Shayanna Jenkins remove a box from their basement hours after the murder? (She took immunity to testify)
- Who tipped off Hernandez to destroy his home surveillance system?
- Was Odin Lloyd killed because he knew about the 2012 shootings?
Honestly? The Netflix documentary raised more questions than answers. Felt like a cash grab exploiting tragedy.
Where Key Players Are Now
| Person | Connection | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shayanna Jenkins | Fiancée | Remarried, lives privately in Rhode Island |
| Ursula Ward | Odin Lloyd's mother | Advocate against gun violence |
| Alexander Bradley | Alleged accomplice | Serving 5 years for unrelated shooting |
| Robert Kraft | Patriots owner | Distanced franchise from Hernandez legacy |
Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)
When I visited Foxborough last year, Hernandez's name was totally scrubbed from Patriots history. Zero mentions in the Hall. Shows how quickly institutions distance themselves.
The CTE findings sparked real changes though:
- Pop Warner banned certain tackle drills
- NFL adopted stricter concussion protocols
- Youth enrollment in flag football spiked 28% since 2017
Still, some parents won't let kids play football at all now. Can't blame them.
Common Questions About What Happened to Aaron Hernandez
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why did Hernandez kill himself after acquittal? | Likely depression + CTE symptoms. Prison staff missed warning signs. |
| Did CTE cause him to murder? | No. Brain damage may have lowered inhibitions, but didn't pull the trigger. |
| How much money did Hernandez leave? | Estate valued at $0 after debts. Daughter gets nothing. |
| Where is Aaron Hernandez buried? | Private ceremony in Bristol, CT. Exact location undisclosed. |
| Was his sexuality part of the story? | Documentary alleged prison affairs. Some think blackmail contributed to suicide. |
| Could CTE have been prevented? | Possibly with fewer hits. Hernandez played since age 6 - thousands of collisions. |
| How did he hang himself in prison? | Used bedsheets tied to window bars during lockdown hours. |
| What happened to Hernandez's tattoos? | Coroner documented 27 tattoos including tear drops and "God forgives." |
My Final Take
Look, I've covered true crime for a decade. Rarely see tragedies this layered. Monster? Victim? Honestly - both. His childhood trauma + football damage created a time bomb. But at the end of the day, Odin Lloyd's family paid the price. That's what sticks with me.
If you learn anything from what happened to Aaron Hernandez, let it be this: talent doesn't outweigh character. And maybe we should rethink glorifying sports that destroy brains.