Aaron Hernandez died an innocent man; Patriots might owe his estate millions

Convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez died an innocent man, thanks to an obscure legal rule that waives his conviction posthumously.

The New England Patriots might have to pay Hernandez’s estate a $3.5 million bonus and an additional $2.5 million in guaranteed money that was not paid to him after his arrest in 2013.

The money will likely go to his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, and their 4-year-old daughter, Avielle Hernandez.

Hernandez was serving a life sentence in the shooting death of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée.

Under an obscure Massachusetts doctrine, the state must throw out the conviction for a felon who dies before his appeal can be heard.

Legally, it is as if Hernandez was never convicted.

Hernandez was found hanged in his cell early Wednesday -- less than a week after a jury acquitted him in the shooting deaths of 2 men in Boston in 2012.

Hernandez reportedly scrawled "JOHN 3:16" on his forehead in his own blood before hanging himself with a bed sheet.

If the Patriots pay Hernandez's estate the millions he is owed, the families of Lloyd, Safiro Furtado and Daniel DeAbreu (the Boston victims), are waiting in line for their cut.

Hernandez's attorney said his brain will be donated to CTE research.

Photo by Win MacNamee/Getty Images

  • imright

    & now Cuba Gooding Sr has died. they have been busy lots of celeb death?

  • nick c

    Not sure if they can get the money if it's in a trust for the child only, I can't recall any adult getting a trust away from a child.

  • http://www.nicolaloves.com/ NicolaLoves

    If he did this to help his child, that's great. The best gift he could have given her, considering how he lived his life.

  • Buttercupdreamsmom

    The other family won't be able to get the money. Because he will be considered "innocent" the family would have to TRY and bring up charges but that ja hard when the person is dead and they wouldn't be able to use previous evidence... Ever heard of DOUBLE JEOPARDY- You can NOT be charged for the same crime twice

  • Evillene

    If they haven't already, Lloyd's family would file a wrongful death civil suit and would likely win and be awarded damages. Double jeopardy only applies to criminal prosecution.

  • dontgetblocked

    I feel pretty confident that the Patriots will not pay three million dollars to a man that was convicted. He was convicted and he was appealing his conviction. He's not innocent.

  • Elevated Soul

    Who?......There are thousands of people that die daily,so why only focus on supposed celebrities?

  • the guest

    Odin Lloyd was a failed football player, a leech and moocher who lived off the crumbs of a successful man he envied, and he was no less into the thug life image than his friends. His family and the other families will not get a dime from the estate of an innocent man. Their meal ticket has been murdered in prison. They can all get jobs.

  • the guest

    I hope Shayanna's lawyers are wise enough to put all the money in trust for the baby.

  • Alicia.Ashe

    Clown hush

  • DroneRivers

    And his murderer was a failure at life and a thug who didn't know how to get out of his own way. Threw away a promising career and his freedom to run the streets with his friends.

  • Alicia.Ashe

    You must be one of Aaron's family members. He's a murderer clown.

  • Anunnaki

    Lol

  • Ryan

    Cute, but the law is the law whether people like it or not.

  • AllAroundTheWorldSameSong

    Ummmm @SandraRose......where is my credit for mentioning this? SMDH...I provided legal jargon and everything.

  • NeverSurprised

    The appeal, in Mass, essentially revokes the conviction and the defendant stands in the position he did prior to conviction - innocent in the eyes of the law until the appeal is ruled upon. Now they can't rule on it because of his death, so he remains innocent and entitled to his contractual compensation.

  • Peter Piper ATL

    He was railroaded and then left to wither on the vine by that despicable Patriots franchise, which was all too willing to hurl him under the bus. Yes, the Patriots have blood on their hands in this man's so-called "death"--which I think was really his murder.

    His family deserves to gt those funds. His conviction had nothing to do with the work he put in on that football field. The Patriots were happy he was arrested because they could then justify not paying him any more money.

    This whole thing is sad. Belichick, have the Pats office run this man's people their money.

  • nick c

    Big difference between estate and trusts, trusts are protected from probate.

  • Justlooknout

    Get in line Johnny you are number 153.

  • SaltineCrackers

    That poor baby : ( I hope there will be money left for her Mother to get her the counseling she is going to need.

  • Tequila Mockingbird

    So, this tall athletic man was able to hang himself? His feet didn't touch the floor being so tall? His weight carried so easily? Hmmmm.....

  • samuel severino

    Exactly

  • the guest

    Aaron Hernandez is innocent and he was murdered.

  • the guest

    Read the facts. Aaron Hernandez did not kill Lloyd. He was convicted on a technicality.

  • the guest

    Odin Lloyd and his family didn't mind a so called "failure at life and thug" paying their rent and putting food on their table.

  • Benjamin

    Your feet doesn't have to touch the floor to hang your self.

  • Tequila Mockingbird

    Wow, you really don't get it. I know that but him being tall if his feet did touch the floor how do he hang himself?

  • Benjamin

    Simply by dropping and letting yourself dangle there, Feet stretched out infront of you and all, while your behind doesn't touch the floor.

    I had a friend who did the same thing, and he was 6'5.

  • samuel severino

    Exactly

  • Maxima

    It is called garotting. You use your own weight to strangle yourself while the rope, belt, sheet is tied to something.

    This further confirms my belief it was a suicide. He wanted out and he wanted his wife, daughter and family to move on with a new life without having to help him do his time, be embarrassed by his name or shamed by his deeds. Hell, he made enemies, maybe his family was being threatened by gangs -- we just don't know. But to give everyone a fresh start I believe was the motivation toward suicide.

    He might have been a thug bully in life, but he went out like a warrior. RIP AH.

  • Maxima

    I admit I don't know much about football, hardly anything really. My takeaway is that a football team is like any other private industry job. You can be fired for any reason at any time if you embarrass the company. He had a history and a lifestyle; and yes, they took him, but AH knew if it got too crazy he could be fired.

  • Maxima

    The estate will get paid, but look for a change in the law soon after that. Remember, black and latin folks are getting that money. They'll make sure that NEVER happens again.

  • Malcom Flex

    He was down low as hell and that's why he killed Lloyd, RIP to Lloyd and the other victims of this DL hothead.

  • Maxima

    Because this is a celebrity blog, maybe?

  • Jussjess25

    My heart just breaks for the wife and daughter ?

  • Jussjess25

    I agree

  • Maxima

    Really? Please spill ALL the tea...

  • Jussjess25

    BEfore you die your brain looses oygen and you pass out.. all he would have had to do was limit the oygen to his brain, once that was done its over. If he placed himself in the right position, hanging yourself if not that hard no matter how tall you are.

  • Malcom Flex

    Be back with links in a bit unless someone beats me to it. He was too hard to live and clearly didn't love women the (fake) playboy routine is common for DL's notice they roll with an all-male crew?

  • Maxima

    Thanks, I neva woulda picked up on that

  • Malcom Flex
  • Malcom Flex

    Oh, I've been around the world and know the deal about DL. Suspect A L L 'hard' thugged out tatted bros rolling in all male crew and fronting as playboys with no obvious love for women except as arm candy/beards.

  • Lorenzo Chaps

    the league has deep pockets. Their lawyers will find a way out of paying his estate anything, as it should. You were convicted of murdering people. ALthough killing himself wipes this away per law, fact remains you were in prison and mixed up in all this stuff. His death is what wipes it all away, not his real innocence.

    His daughter wouldn't see a dime for years if I were in charge of fighting this on behalf of the league. I'd tie it up in court forever. Liberal minds want to suddenly forget his crime because he leaves a kid behind. Lets hope he did some estate planning instead. If anything, settle up with his victims by paying into their estate(s), since we're giving money away.

  • TDK

    Hernandez was a demon, now he's with the other demons burning in hell.

  • sheila

    i would like to know how did he go out like a warrior when he already embarassed his family by doing the deed that got him sent to prison in the 1st place that is the dumbest shit i have heard he wanted his family to move on...oh brother wow really

  • sheila

    what the hell does that have to do with this man being shot and killed by hernandez so he deserved to die by the hands of this man hernandez was as big a thug as lloyd he was still about that life to even though he was being paid millions of dollars to play ball he was still in the streets do some research b4 u speak odin lloyd didnt deserve to go out like he did

  • Trey

    Why?...she helped him get rid of the gun

  • Trey

    "Thug Bully"?....he was convicted of shooting someone several times....he was a murderer.

  • Tamara Artis-Dawkins

    People his baby mama/fiance is not entitled to jack becasue she is not his wife. She may get something because the daughter may be entitled. Ladies please stop claiming the "fiance/wifey title for years" if he dies before the marriage you get nothing, nada, zero. Engagements should be a year or less; if not keep it pushin. Just like she is going to do. I hope before he commited this selfish act he did something to secure his daughter's future. Selfish to the end!!!

  • AllAroundTheWorldSameSong

    Nope, I posted it and @'ed her about it....so I am no where near that far down the list.

  • AllAroundTheWorldSameSong

    Exactly......and relationships should not go past 2.5 years without any discussion of marriage or engagement. If by 3 years you aren't even engaged, but doing spousal things.....RUN...GET OUT!! ESCAPE!!

  • Lady

    Sounds strange but I think he did it for his family. Being presumed innocent at death due to an appeal in process, this releases his financial liability to the victims families. So that in the event his family gets the 3.5 million from the Patriots, it will all go to his daughter.

  • Wakando Shamar Taylor

    actually he cant be sued because of this law! without an conviction and the way its wrote up its like nothing never happened they need that conviction to stay on the books for proof! they would not be able to bring up the convictiom in a civil suit because now it doesnt exist

  • Look@m3

    Lordt!!!!

  • Justlooknout

    Bawahaaaaaaaaa

  • T865!

    Ever heard of OJ

  • Kimberly

    But they really don't have proof that he killed Odin henceforth why he was acquitted in the second trial I believe had he got the appeal the conviction would have been overturned

  • Kimberly

    Just because he was convicted doesn't mean he did it slot of ppl are falsely accused and sent to prison

  • suganspice68

    I am holding my empty cup ready for the tea too!

  • BEANTOWN BULLI

    Umm sorry to say she will get the money because they got married while he was in jail!!!

  • BEANTOWN BULLI

    Aint no tea..i grew up with Odin. Aaron was his idol and he was just mixed up in wrong situation!! Its sad all around.

  • AllAroundTheWorldSameSong

    Nope, been engaged since 2012, but had not tied the knot. She took his last name, but not because they were married.

  • Birdman24

    True

  • Tynamight

    Somebody help me out: Why did Aaron kill again? No one seems to know THE WHY.

  • YellowSauce

    there is a channel named "reelz" this channel is basically a documentary channel for criminals and crimes infamous gang and drug dealers murders etc ... they showed one on him I think Monday or Tuesday .. They told the three stories of the three murders he allegedly committed etc

  • YellowSauce

    so how is she free ?

  • T Kenny

    seeing his face everywhere is starting to creep me out.. his serial killer ish profile. tew much

  • Tequila Mockingbird

    Right, But you do know this was in a tiny jail cell. No room for extra curricular activities.

  • stanhope

    He was murdered! Officials have been covering up s h y t for generations. Hope his daughter gets the coins

  • stanhope

    Gurl pleez, he didn't kill himself for his family or anybody else...murder!

  • stanhope

    Murder! His daughter will get everything if he has not other LEGAL heirs as it should be.

  • stanhope

    Thank goodness it is not up to your evil a s s to deny his daughter....hateful a s s

  • stanhope

    Which is why she should get paid ?

  • jade

    He went out like a coward.

  • jade

    Yea, if it were only one murder, I'll be more inclined to follow your theory. But one person being implicated in three different murders is no coincidence.

  • Mr. LeBrick James

    I see your point, but they took OJ to a civil trial and he lost the case. You cant take a dead man to trial.

  • Mr. LeBrick James

    And then she took his last name even though they never got legally married. I dont even understand why any woman would do that. Why not just get married?

  • Dowoop

    If he has a will saying she gets it then she gets it whether or not they were married.

  • AG

    Which is probably why he did it...to leave money for his daughter.

  • AG

    Pretend thug.

  • Dowoop

    Shes young and she dont know him..she will be fine..her mama will get another man to play her daddy and she will be none the wiser.

  • i troll it like i see it

    I hope the family receive every penny for their loss, especially the little girl.

  • AListDiva29

    NFL money is mostly NOT guaranteed, so they may never see that $. If so I think a trust should be set up for his daughter, and the other half should be made to go to his victim's family. He was not convicted in the deaths of the other 2 men, so unless their families sue his estate in civil court, they won't get anything.

  • XoXo

    Right! People on here making their own laws. Too funny.

  • AListDiva29

    Maybe he had life insurance, but some companies may not cover suicide.

  • AListDiva29

    He's most likely right though. The NFL has billions, but their lawyers will hold stuff up in court for years just so they don't have to pass out pocket change. The mother can get a damn job too! She lied for him, and is lucky she was indicted for perjury!

  • AListDiva29

    She's lucky she wasn't indicted for perjury! She'll have to get a job just like the rest us do to support our kids!

  • SaltineCrackers

    The child knew her Father and begged her Mother for weeks to see him which is why she took her to court one day. Everyone knows who she is, who her Mother is, and who her Father was and what he did. She WILL have to deal with that for the rest of her life.

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    Sorry, I didn't see your comment. If you want credit, email me next time.

  • Lorenzo Chaps

    It's not evil, it's reality. You guys want to forget his heinous, cold blooded acts all cuz he has a daughter. Well, he was her greatest source of support outside the prison AND ALIVE. I too used to be liberal in thought. Now I'm more logical.

  • Meme

    A few days ago there was No suicide note now there's 3?

  • Elevated Soul

    This is a blog where all types of subjects are discussed therefore it's not specifically a celebrity blog....

    Bottom line there are thousands of people who are born everyday,just as there are thousands that die everyday.My comment spoke on how people like you "value the lives of people just because they are or were famous., when their lives are no more important than people you actually KNOW...

    Nuff said.

  • Malcom Flex

    Down low thug, as most gang bangers...

  • Malcom Flex

    I AM RIGHT THE TEA IS ALL OVER THE WORLD HE IS GAY AND I TOLD YALLS AZZES SO BEFORE THE DAILY MAIL DID!!

  • Malcom Flex

    Stop mammying!!

  • Dowoop

    And let me guess you know her and her mother personally right. What a joke!

  • Gotitbutsmh

    He denied her 1st and apparently didn't give AF about her while he was out trying to act hard.

  • Gotitbutsmh

    Being convicted makes him a murderer. Weird

  • Gotitbutsmh

    Being convicted makes him a murderer. Weird

  • Gotitbutsmh

    LOL

  • Gotitbutsmh

    LOL

  • Maxima

    Do you know what it takes to kill yourself? The man knew he was no good and his troubled life would only get worse. Sad to say you are so banal you don't see a noble deed when it occurs. He fell on his sword to free his family from himself.

  • Maxima

    Agreed, which is behavior attributable to a thug bully

  • Maxima

    Please see my comment below

  • Jussjess25

    Oo I didnt know that ?

  • Tynamight

    Thank you. I will check it out.