Aaron Hernandez charged with Odin Lloyd murder
Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested this morning on unknown charges and promptly released by the Pats, and the Massachusetts State Police stated that Hernandez’s charges would be released as today’s arraignment. The arraignment started at 2:00 p.m. ET, and he has just been charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd. The rumor before the arraignment was that Hernandez would be facing six charges, and we now know he is getting charged with the most important of them.
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (81) is unable to make the catch in the first half of the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots plan all along was to release Aaron Hernandez once he was arrested, but that was regardless of whether or not he would be charged with murder or something simpler such as obstruction of justice. This murder charge surprises nobody, and it now affirms that the Patriots made the right decision both emotionally and now logically in releasing Hernandez.
The murder charge should surprise nobody, and Hernandez’s actions throughout it all have been extremely suspicious. He destroyed key evidence, had a rental car in his own town, knew the victim Odin Lloyd, and he didn’t exactly have the cleanest background going in with a pending lawsuit for a shooting and character concerns stemming from his college days.
I don’t anticipate Aaron Hernandez playing in the NFL again, and I know for a fact that the isn’t going to be playing for the Patriots; that was out the window once they released him. Will his NFL career be out the window? We’ll see, but he has not been convicted of anything yet. Just remember that. Even so, I will admit that I believe in my heart that he is guilty.
There are five gun-related charges on Aaron Hernandez for the murder. More updates are on the way, but the most important is that Hernandez has indeed been charged with murder.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Odin Lloyd and, especially, his family, who have had to endure an unimaginable nightmare.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty.