This week for the True Crime Wednesday feature, I am recapping and breaking down the final episode of the Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez series on Netflix. I will recap all the episode information first, followed by my opinion and impressions. Due to how disjointed the narrative is of this series, I am going to group the information by topics instead of in the order as information is obtained in the episode.
Episode 3
Incident Date: June 17, 2013
- Location: North Attleboro, Massachusetts
- Victim: Odin Lloyd
- Suspect(s)/Defendant(s): Aaron Hernandez, Carlos Ortiz, Ernest Wallace, Shayanna Jenkins, Tanya Singleton
- Charges: first-degree murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a large-capacity firearm, possessing a firearm without a firearm identification card, accessory to murder, perjury
Incident Date: July 16, 2012
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Victims: Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado
- Suspect: Aaron Hernandez, Shayanna Jenkins, Tanya Singleton
- Charges: first-degree murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, perjury, criminal contempt of court, intimidation of a witness
SECTION 1 – TRIALS
Odin Lloyd Murder Trial
Friends of Aaron’s who had seen him and Odin together a few weeks before the murder, say there did not appear to be an issue between the two. Aaron had been at a nightclub in Boston with Odin two days before the murder where a witness says that Aaron had suddenly become angry with Odin. Prosecutors were able to give a reason for Aaron’s anger. The only one who could explain why this murder happened is Aaron and everything else is just speculation. When Odin’s mother, Ursula Ward, had to testify at trial, she had been instructed that if she had any emotion, she could prejudice the jury.
When Robert Kraft, Owner of the New England Patriots, came to testify at Aaron’s trial, it was as if Aaron’s two lives collided. Kraft was one of the few people who had been in contact with Aaron during the time that he was a suspect. Kraft’s testimony was key for the prosecution to prove that Aaron was the killer. Statements Aaron had made to Kraft during that time would ultimately be his downfall. In their closing statements, Aaron’s defense team did acknowledge his presence at the crime scene but insisted that the real killers were Wallace and Ortiz. However, the prosecution played a soundless clip showing Aaron with Wallace and Ortiz the next day. Their point in doing it was that if Aaron was truly afraid for his life and that of his family, why would he let them hold his daughter who was a baby at the time? In the clip, it could also be observed that there was no remorse or concern shown by Aaron. Aaron was found guilty of the murder of Odin Lloyd and sent to Souza-Baranowski Supermax Facility in Shirley, Massachusetts for a life sentence.
Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado Double Homicide Trial
Aaron was brought back into a courtroom two years after beginning his sentence at the Shirley Max facility. Initially, Aaron had hired Jose Baez to handle his appeal in the Odin Lloyd conviction. However, Baez knew that the appeal would be affected by the outcome of this trial, so Aaron had Baez represent him for the double homicide trial. None of Aaron’s family showed up to support him at this trial, only his fiancée, Shayanna was there. This trial was seen as low stakes because Aaron had already been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Odin Lloyd. Baez knew he had an uphill battle with the fact that Aaron was already a convicted murderer.
Baez did his best to raise reasonable doubt by pointing at Alexander Bradley as the triggerman. The prosecution tried to use Aaron’s tattoos as an admission of guilt in the double homicide. Baez did the most damage to the prosecution’s case when he brought attention and scrutiny to a text Bradley sent about not remembering who shot him. This trial like the last one lacked motive and what was presented as motive did not make much sense. The state tried to call a witness that would testify to Aaron’s sexuality, but the judge ruled that could not after hearing arguments from both sides. Aaron was found not guilty of the murders of Daniel da Abreu and Safiro Furtado. He broke down after hearing the verdicts, there are those who wonder why he had such an emotional response.
SECTION 2 – AARON HERNANDEZ
As Aaron’s relationship with Bradley deteriorated, he became more paranoid. Aaron had every reason to be paranoid, Bradley had bragged about the number of guys he would be able to bring to a fight. This led Aaron to purchase the infamous security system for his North Attleboro home. He also purchased an armored car and guns to defend himself. This is also the time when Aaron began to hang out with Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz all the time. Aaron had gone to his manager saying his life was in danger and he was being extorted. None of this was ever reported to police at the time. In February 2013, Aaron met with Bill Belichick to request a trade to a different team, he mentioned that he feared for his safety. Belichick denied Aaron’s request, and others within the organization suggested he get another apartment. Aaron did end up getting a second apartment where he would smoke weed and escape from the responsibilities of his life. Tanya Singleton, Aaron’s cousin, died while Aaron was in prison in October 2015.
Suicide
A reporter (who I find deplorable for this) went on a radio show and made comments about Aaron’s sexuality. The hosts along with the reporter discussed the rumors of Aaron’s sexual orientation in some of the crudest terms relating to football. They, of course, related all of it back to why Aaron murdered Odin, but there has been no proof of that found. Two days after this radio interview, Aaron was found hanging in his cell. There were three suicide letters written, one to his fiancée, one to his daughter, and one to his lawyer. Everyone who had known Aaron on a personal level was shocked by his suicide. Shayanna had not noticed anything off with him when they had spoken on the phone. In the suicide letter to Shayanna, Aaron had written “You’re Rich” and underlined it. This highlighted the archaic Abatement law that had been on the books in Massachusetts. The Abatement Law states that if you died while your case is under appeal, the conviction is vacated and erased from your record. It is believed that Aaron knew about Abatement and committed suicide to force the Patriots to pay out his contract to Shayanna and his daughter. The state Supreme Court reinstated Aaron’s conviction for Odin Lloyd’s murder after the state appealed the abatement.
CTE
After Aaron committed suicide, Baez worked with Aaron’s mom and brother to get his brain donated to be studied. The prosecutor in Suffolk County, originally thought it was a publicity stunt to have Aaron’s brain studied. But the more he researched and read the more he saw a lot of similarities in symptoms and Aaron’s behavior. Dr. Ann Mckee said that Aaron’s brain was the worst case of CTE she had ever seen.
People Interviewed
These are all the people interviewed, who had a sound bite credited to them, or an image credited in the episode. They are listed in the order of their credited appearance:
- Ryan McDonnell, Aaron’s Personal Assistant
- Alexander Bradley, Associate to Aaron Hernandez
- Dan Wetzel, Author/Sportswriter – Yahoo Sports
- Jose Baez, Lead Attorney to Aaron Hernandez
- Patrick Haggan, Suffolk CountyAssistant District Attorney
- Ernest Wallace, Associate to Aaron Hernandez
- Carlos Ortiz, Associate to Aaron Hernandez
- Kevin Armstrong, Journalist
- Brian Murphy, Agent of Aaron Hernandez
- Bill Belichick, Head Coach – New England Patriots
- Maria Cramer, Reporter – Boston Globe
- Kevin Anderson, Director of Player Development – New England Patriots
- Barbara Scardino, Real Estate Broker
- Carol Bailey, Neighbor
- Tim Sansoucie, Family Friend/Neighbor
- Stephen Ziogas, Childhood friend/Teammate
- Kasey Arma, Nightclub witness
- Kwani Nicholas, Nightclub witness
- Jennifer “Gina” Mercado, Sister of Tanya Singleton
- Captain Joseph Direnzo, North Attleboro Police Department
- Ursula Ward, Mother of Odin Lloyd
- Susan Candiotti, Former CNN Investigative Reporter
- Terri Hernandez, Mother of Aaron Hernandez
- Robert Kraft, Owner – New England Patriots
- Julian Sultan, Hernandez Defense Attorney
- Thomas Hodgson, Sheriff of Bristol County
- William McCauley, Bristol County Deputy District Attorney
- Jonathan “DJ” Hernandez, Aaron’s Brother
- Judge E. Susan Garsh, Bristol County Superior Court
- Jermaine Wiggins, Former Tight End – New England Patriots
- Shane Hickey, Friend of Aaron Hernandez
- Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron’s fiancée
- Safira Furtado, Sister of Safiro Furtado
- Neusa Abreu, Sister of Daniel de Abreu
- Antoine Salvador, Witness
- David Nelson, Tattoo Artist
- George Leontire, Attorney for Aaron Hernandez
- Michele Mcphee, Reporter
- Dennis Sansoucie, Aaron’s High School Quarterback
- Robert Proctor, Member of Aaron Hernandez Defense Team
- Mike Massey, Friend & Teammate of Odin Lloyd
- Ryan O’Callaghan, Former NFL Offensive Tackle
- Chris Borland, Former Linebacker – San Francisco 49ers
- Dr. Ann McKee, Chief of Neuropathology – Boston VA Health Care System
- Leigh Bodden, Former Teammate – New England Patriots
- Doug Sheff, Lloyd Family Attorney
Oh boy oh boy, where should I begin? DO NOT WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY SERIES!!!!! It is trash. They waited until the last 10 minutes of this docuseries to talk about anything having to do with Aaron having CTE. That is the stuff I wanted them to talk about. I wanted to hear how that could have impacted his behavior and his choices. And what role it could have played in the murders he was involved with. I also do not believe in outing someone just to out them and that is exactly was this documentary was. Yes, I loved that it exposed the toxic masculinity around football. BRAVO, to Ryan O’Callaghan for being frank and honest about his experience, he had me in tears most of the time he was on the screen. I am so over everyone wanting to say that Aaron Hernandez was a murderer because he was an angry closeted gay man. That is such a disgusting picture to paint that dehumanizes those in the LGBTQ+ community. I do not appreciate the scorned lover energy either that came out during every episode. Honestly, here is what I got out of this documentary series: Aaron Hernandez was emotionally immature due to growing up in an unstable environment and was failed by the adults around him to get him help that may have changed the course of his life. Aaron is not without fault however, without more information on CTE could have impacted him and how it began at such a young age impacted him, I cannot say how responsible he is.
Tomorrow for the Writing Thursday feature, I am presenting an original scene. Next week for the Missing Person Wednesday feature, I am highlighting the Doe Network profile of Faith Ann Marie Nicole King-Basey. Until then keep sleuthing the cases; Nerd out!
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