Today: Feb 17, 2025

Hernandez in the headlines

Caitlin WilliamsonSpecial to the Southern News

 

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has spent the past months making the headlines of almost every newspaper, magazine, and opening story of your 6 o’clock news; not for breaking football records, however.

Hernandez was charged in June for being involved in the execution style murder of Odin Llyod, 27. The shocking murder case stunned the country, especially New Englander’s who were clueless to the “hometown hero” of Bristol, Conn., being capable of murdering someone who was reported to be a friend of Hernandez.

The nightmare unfolded at the end of June, where Hernandez and two unidentified men picked up Llyod from his home in Dorchester, Mass. Lloyd was allegedly driven to a park half a mile from Hernandez’s home, and shot five times.

Reports show there are surveillance cameras of Hernandez leaving his home, picking up Llyod, and returning home just around the aftermath of the murder.

A “bone-chilling” detail provided by Kevin Manahan of USA Today said, “A few minutes later, surveillance video at Hernandez’s home showed him walking through the house with a pistol in his hand.”

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Greg Aiello, spokesman of the NFL, told Manahan of USA Today, “The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling. The Patriots have released Aaron Hernandez, who will have his day in court. At the same time, we should not forget the young man who was the victim in this case and take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to Odin Lloyd’s family and friends.”

This shocked Patriots fans and sports fans everywhere. However, reports are rising of Hernandez possibly being involved in two other manslaughter cases. Charges so heavy, Hernandez may be facing life in prison.

The Boston Globe made reports that, “Prosecutors reportedly are asking a grand jury to weigh whether Hernandez should be charged in the shooting of two men in Boston in July 2012.”

The motive behind the murder of Lloyd may be because of the 2012 shootings. Hernandez was potentially nervous of Lloyd’s knowledge of certain events and couldn’t handle the possibility of him saying anything to officials.

Reports state that Safiro Furtado and Daniel Abreu were the victims in a drive-by shooting in downtown Boston on July 16, 2012.

Hernandez is waiting to hear from the court regarding the specific date he will be questioned about the series of events explaining why Hernandez may be involved.

As more legal issues are rising for this once $40 million contract holder with the New England Patriots, it seems Hernandez had more than just a few skeletons in his closet.

Reports are now bringing up a shooting in Florida around 2007, when Hernandez was playing for the Gators at that time.

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“The case is still open and listed as an attempted homicide by Gainesville police,” Iliana Limón Romero reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

Romero also reports about an incident in Florida when Hernandez allegedly, physically assaulted a bouncer, because he refused to pay for drinks.

“Gainesville police recommended Hernandez be charged with felony assault, but the disposition of the case is unknown because it was sealed in observance of state laws protecting juveniles,” Romero of Orlando Sentinel.

There is no death penalty in the state of Massachusetts. However, if Hernandez is charged with all of these accusations, his reigns as a tight end will definitely be a thing of the past.

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