Aaron Hernandez- the complicated convict

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Ellie Lamberty, Staff Writer
April 26, 2017

There are always exceptions to the rule. Someone finds a hole in the rulebook, and they take advantage of it. Some think this loophole is cheating, and others think it is genius. Aaron Hernandez took advantage of the “exception.” The story of Aaron Hernandez and all the crimes he may or may not have committed is a long and complicated one. This case may not have been given as much publicity, but Hernandez was an NFL tight end for the New England Patriots. Although confusing, here is the backstory and what is still going on.  

Hernandez murdered Odin Lloyd on June 17, 2013. He was then indicted by a grand jury on Aug. 22, 2013 and found guilty of first-degree murder, as well as five weapon charges on April 15, 2015. Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While being in prison for the murder of Lloyd, Hernandez also faced charges for a double murder in 2012. Hernandez was suspected of murdering the two, before Llyod, but was acquitted of the charges on April 14, 2017. While in prison, Hernandez was not exactly a changed man some had hoped he might be. Usatoday.com wrote that Hernandez “fought, got emblazoned with tattoos, and flirted/feuded with pen pals.”

Just three days after he was acquitted of the double murder, April 19, 2017, guards found Hernandez unresponsive at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional center around 3 a.m. Hernandez hung himself in his single-person cell with a bed sheet attached to the window. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at the UMass Memorial- Healthalliance Hospital. ESPN.com stated that, “Law enforcement sources told ABC News that Hernandez was found with ‘John 3:16’ written across his forehead.” Hernandez was not an inmate suspected of any mental illnesses because he would have been transferred otherwise. His suicide was seen as a shock to those around him. Hernandez did not leave along a designated suicide note, but there were three letters found in his cell after his death. The letters were found next to a bible that was opened to the same verse written on Hernandez’s forehead, John 3:16. One of the three being for his gay prison lover, the other for fiancée Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez’s and their 4 year old daughter Avielle.

Rumors are circulating about the nature of Hernandez’s suicide now. It is speculated he committed suicide so that his daughter could receive the remainder of the contract money the New England Patriots will owe her. According to CNN.com “Aaron Hernandez’s murder conviction is expected to be dismissed posthumously because of a legal rule called ‘abatement.’ That would mean, legally speaking, Aaron Hernandez died an innocent man.” Hernandez’s appeal for the 2013 murder of Lloyd was still pending, so when he died the court will have to vacate the conviction. The point of the appeals process is to find errors in the previous case, so because there was not a chance to find the errors, the charges must be dropped. As of now, the debate of if Hernandez’s family will receive payment is still up in the air.

 

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