Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez has died, it has been confirmed. The 27-year-old was found dead after he committed suicide in his Massachusetts prison cell in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The Massachusetts Department of Correction released a statement, which read: "On April 19, 2017 Aaron Hernandez was discovered hanged in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts at approximately 3.05 am. Lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez and he was transported to UMASS Leominster where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. by a physician at the hospital." A spokesperson revealed that there was no indication that the sportsman would take his own life. The Massachusetts State Police are investigating his death.
Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez has passed away
The former Patriots star was serving a life sentence after he was convicted for the murder of his friend and fellow sportsman Odin Lloyd. The team dropped Aaron just hours after his arrest on June 26, 2013. A Patriots spokesman said that they would not comment on the footballer's death: "We are aware of the reports but I don’t anticipate that we will be commenting today." Aaron's death comes days after he was acquitted in an unrelated 2012 double homicide. But incidentally, today also marks the day his former teammates are making their visit to the White House today to mark their Super Bowl win.
The 27-year-old was serving a life sentence in prison
At the time of his murder conviction, Aaron was one of the Patriots most promising players. In 2012, he had signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $40 million. He leaves behind his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins Hernandez, and their four-year-old daughter.