Aaron Hernandez timeline: NFL stardom to convicted murderer
The rise and fall of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is an epic tale from being an unknown to an All-Pro, only to crash into epic demise.
With news of Hernandez’s death on Wednesday morning, we present a timeline of events.
Spring 2007: Hernandez named Connecticut’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year, was top tight end recruit according to Scout.com.
Fall 2007: Committed to play at the University of Connecticut, but changed to the University of Florida to play under Urban Myer.
September 30, 2007: Two men shot in Gainesville, FL. Hernandez was one of four UF football players suspected of the crime.
Spring 2010: Drafted by New England Patriots in the fourth round (113th overall).
July 16, 2012: Drive-by shooting of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston, Hernandez not suspected at the time.
August 2012: Signed a five year, $40 million contract extension, with a $12.5 million signing bonus. Donates $50,000 to a charity.
June 17, 2013: Odin Lloyd found shot and killed near Hernandez’s Massachusetts home.
June 21-23, 2013: Video of Hernandez and Lloyd together the night of the murder surfaces. Home searched again.
June 26-28, 2013: Hernandez arrested, changed with murder. Patriots release him from team. Further investigation links connection to another Boston murder. Car found that links Hernandez to Lloyd and others.
July 3, 2013: Gainesville, FL, police release report on the 2007 double murder over gold necklace. Hernandez mentioned.
July 9-30, 2013: Text messages between Hernandez and Lloyd documents unsealed, hearings being on Boston Double Murder, and surveillance video from Hernandez’s house made public.
August 19, 2013: Gun in double murder found in Springfield, Mass.
August 22, 2013: Hernandez indicted for Lloyd’s murder.
January 16, 2014: Boston Police documents connect Hernandez to Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado murders.
May 15, 2014: Hernandez indicted for Boston Double Murder.
January 9, 2015: Trial for Lloyd’s murder begins.
April 15, 2015: Jury finds Hernandez guilty, mandatory life sentence.
May 11, 2015: Hernandez indicted on charges related to Bradley’s murder in Florida.
December 4, 2015: Guards find shank in Hernandez’s cell.
December 20, 2016: Hernandez identified as trigger man in 2012 shooting of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston.
April 14, 2017: Hernandez found not guilty in double murder.
Next: Aaron Hernandez found dead in prison
April 19, 2017: Hernandez found in prison cell, hanging from window by bed sheet. Pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. Eastern Time.