The case involving former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has moved in various directions since the star was arrested for murder and now that he is facing life in prison for the crime, authorities have started to look closely at the motive for the shooting.
UPDATE: Aaron Hernandez Found Guilty: Patriots Star Faces Life In Prison On First Degree Murder Charges After Verdict Reached, story to follow
Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first degree murder in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd from 2013, as the jury announced that he was found guilty on a unanimous verdict and now faces the penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole and he also was found guilty of gun charges.
Hernandez was SENTENCED to life in prison without parole and will be in jail less than three miles from Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play.
According to CNN.com, Hernandez was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder despite no murder weapon, a strong motive or any eyewitnesses in the case. Hernandez also faces a trial in the killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado from 2012.
The jury did not have an exact conclusion about why Lloyd was murdered by Hernandez, but some news outlets have speculated about it. Lloyd may have disrespected Hernandez in some way, or the two could have had a dispute over drugs, as both were common users. Some have also suggested that Lloyd knew about the double murder of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado and that the information may have gotten him killed.
Odin Lloyd and Hernandez knew each other for about two years according to the Boston Globe and other reports from ABC and news outlets have said that a possible motive could have been that Lloyd knew information about Hernandez's past crimes, including the double murder that he is currently being investigated in. The main motive that was presented in Hernandez's arraignment and bail hearing was described as Lloyd disrespecting Hernandez at a nightclub the week before, but now more details have come up to show that it could be deeper than that.
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ABC News has reported that Lloyd possibly knew of Hernandez's involvement in the double murder as well as other crimes, including possible drug ties and another shooting. That double murder involved a drive by shooting that killed Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado and reports said that a gray or silver SUV was the one who pulled up alongside it. Police have taken in a car reportedly rented by Hernandez and he also was at the same nightclub those two men were at the night of the murder.
That damaging information along with other secrets Lloyd knew may have been the reason why Hernandez murdered him and although that crime is serious, the tight end may have felt that he was better off trying to hide the previous crime, despite the risks. Hernandez's life has been rocked since he was arrested on Wednesday and he now no longer is employed by the NFL and is facing life in prison for his crimes against Lloyd, if he is convicted. He could face further charges depending on what happens with the double murder and he leaves behind his fiancé and his young child on the outside.
Hernandez was denied bail twice by a judge and the body of Lloyd was found less than a mile from his home in North Attleboro. Hernandez was linked to the body with shell casings found at the scene as well as blue bubble gum and now he is facing life in prison for the crime. Hernandez was considered to be one of the top tight ends in the game and now he will be one of the biggest cautionary tales in the league going forward and he likely will never play in the league again.
