Aaron Hernandez found dead in prison cell

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

SHIRLEY, Mass. — Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez is dead, according to the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

Hernandez was found dead in his cell at the Souza Baranowski Corectional Center in Shirley.

He reportedly hanged himself using a bed sheet attached to a cell window.

Hernandez had blocked the cell door jamming it with various items. He was taken to UMass Leominster and was pronounced dead just after 4:00 a.m Wednesday morning.

He was serving a life sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd back in 2013, and was found not guilty in the 2012 death of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

The Department of Corrections sent out a statement saying:

On April 19, 2017 Aaron Hernandez was discovered hanged in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley Massachusetts at approximately 3:05 a.m., lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez and he was transported to UMASS Leominster where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. by a physician at the hospital. Mr. Henandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit. Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items. The Massachussetts State Police are on scene and the investigation continues. Mr. Hernandez’s of kin have been notified.   

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017