On June 18, 2013, the police searched
Hernandez's house in North Attleboro for
several hours in connection with an
investigation into the shooting death of a
friend,
Odin Lloyd. Lloyd's body was found
in an industrial park about a mile away
from Hernandez's house with multiple
gunshot wounds to the back and chest.
[42][43] The Massachusetts State Police
obtained a search warrant after evidence
surfaced that Hernandez intentionally
destroyed his home security system. A cell
phone belonging to Hernandez was turned
over to police "in pieces" and Hernandez
allegedly hired a "team of house cleaners"
the same day Lloyd's body was
discovered, raising additional suspicion.
[44] On June 20, 2013, the Boston Herald
reported the Patriots had "barred"
Hernandez from Gillette Stadium.[45]
According to NFL.com, Patriots owner
Robert Kraft decided to have Patriots staff
ask Hernandez to leave because he did not
want Gillette to be "the site of a media
stakeout".
However, the Boston Globe reported that
the Patriots front office had decided days
before Hernandez's arrest that if
Hernandez were arrested on any charge
related to the case, even an obstruction of
justice charge, he would be released.
On June 26, 2013, Hernandez was taken
from his home in handcuffs and into police
custody. The Patriots released Hernandez
about 90 minutes later, before officially
knowing the charges against him.
Their press release stated: A young man
was murdered last week and we extend our
sympathies to the family and friends who
mourn his loss. Words cannot express the
disappointment we feel knowing that one
of our players was arrested as a result of
this investigation. We realize that law
enforcement investigations into this matter
are ongoing. We support their efforts and
respect the process. At this time, we
believe this transaction is simply the right
thing to do.
Later that day, Hernandez was charged
with first-degree murder, in addition to five
gun-related charges; he was held without
bail at the Bristol County Jail. Two other
men were also arrested in connection with
Lloyd's death: Carlos Ortiz, on June 27,
2013, and Ernest Wallace on June 28,2013.
Ortiz revealed to the police that Hernandez
had secretly rented an apartment in
Franklin, Massachusetts. A subsequent
search of the apartment, according to the
Associated Press, "turned up ammunition
and clothing that police believe could be
evidence in the murder case against him".
On August 22, 2013, Aaron Hernandez was
indicted by a grand jury for the murder of
Odin Lloyd. On September 6, 2013, he was
arraigned and pled not guilty to first-
degree murder. He was held without bail
but reserved the right to request bail later.
On September 27, 2013, Jenkins was
indicted on a perjury charge in connection
with Lloyd's killing.
On April 15, 2015, Hernandez was found
guilty of murder in the first degree, a
charge that automatically carries a
sentence of life in prison without a
possibility of parole, as well as five firearm
charges. Hernandez did not face the death
penalty, as the state of Massachusetts
abolished the death penalty in 1984.
