Former UF and Patriots' Star Tight End Aaron Hernandez Hangs Himself in His Prison Cell

Aaron Hernandez, former star tight end with the University of Florida and New England Patriots, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015, hanged himself early Wednesday in his prison cell where he was serving a life sentence without chance of parole for a 2015 murder.

According to numerous media outlets, Hernandez was discovered in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass., around 3 a.m., the Massachusetts Department of Correction said in a statement.

Lifesaving techniques were attempted and he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m.

“Mr. Hernandez hanged himself using a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window,” the statement said. “Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.”

Hernandez, 27, was housed in a single cell in the general prison population, the statement said. The assistant deputy commissioner of communications, Christopher Fallon, told The Associated Press that officials didn't believe Hernandez was a suicide risk. No suicide note was found.

He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Odin L. Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Mr. Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins. He had appealed the verdict.

He was found not guilty just last Friday in a second murder case, a drive-by shooting of two people in Boston in 2012.

At UF, where he was, for a while, a teammate of Tim Tebow, he was chosen the country’s best tight end. He also ran into trouble there, getting into a bar fight and testing positive for marijuana.

He was the Patriots' fourth-round NFL draft pick, after many teams passed on him, leery of his reputation.

Hernandez’s suicide came on the day some of his former teammates would be visiting the White House to celebrate their recent Super Bowl victory.