Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Former NFL New England Patriots' Star, Aaron Hernandez, Found Dead in Jail Cell

By Douglas V. Gibbs
AuthorSpeakerInstructorRadio Host

Aaron Hernandez, the former rising star in the National Football League, serving life without parole for a murder in 2013, was discovered dead this morning.  He hung himself using a bed-sheet tied to the bars in the window of his cell.  Hernandez had not been previously transferred outside the general population or put on suicide watch because he had not shown any signs that he was a danger to himself.

Hernandez had been featured in the news over the past week when last Friday he was acquitted of murder charges in the shooting deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in the South End in July 2012.  He broke down into tears in the courtroom over the acquittal, but was already serving a life sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd in June 2013.

He had it all.  He was a rising star in the NFL on the most preeminent team in the league, the New England Patriots.  He played for the team from 2010 until 2012.  Since his arrest, and departure from football, New England has won the Super Bowl twice.

In 2012 he signed the second largest contract for a Tight End in the history of football.  His skills made him a dominant force in the league.  Yet, because of his inability to separate himself from his out-of-control life of wanting to be a gangster, it all came crashing down.

June 2013 he was charged with shooting Lloyd to death, a short distance from his home in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and the Patriots released him.  Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in April 2015.

Prior to his acquittal in the other two murders, last Thursday Patriots coach Bill Belichick called the Hernandez story a “tragedy” and “heartbreaking.”

According to a statement, Hernandez was discovered dead at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass., at approximately 3:05 a.m.

“Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population unit,” the statement said. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.”

He was only 27 years old.

He was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. by a physician at the hospital.  He leaves behind his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez and their 4-year-old daughter Avielle.

His death was discovered the same day his former team, the New England Patriots, are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump following their latest Super Bowl win.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

No comments: