Aaron Hernandez lawyer: 'Determined to find truth ... about untimely death'
One of Aaron Hernandez’s attorneys said those close to the former New England Patriots tight end are “determined to find the truth surrounding his untimely death.”
Jose Baez said in a statement to Paste BN Sports and other outlets that the Hernandez’s family and lawyers are “shocked and surprised at the news of Aaron’s death.” Baez was on Hernandez's legal team for his most recent trial, which concluded Friday with not guilty verdicts on two murder charges.
“There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated anything like this was possible,” Baez said in the statement. “Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence. Those who love and care about him are heartbroken and determined to find the truth surrounding his untimely death. We request that authorities conduct a transparent and thorough investigation.”
Hernandez was found hanged by a bed sheet inside jail cell at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass., early Wednesday morning. The Massachusetts Department of Corrections said Hernandez “hanged himself.” An autopsy was scheduled to be conducted in Boston to determine the cause and manner of death.
The insinuation that Hernandez ‘s death may not be suicide follows similar claims made by those close to Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska and NFL running back who died after he was found unresponsive in his California jail cell in January 2016. Phillips, 40, was facing a murder charge and was serving a two-year sentence for other offenses at the time of his death.
“There was nothing about his demeanor that made me think he was suicidal at all, or depressed,’’ Jesse Whitten, the attorney who was representing Phillips, told Paste BN Sports hours after Phillips’ death. “He was very confident about winning this case and he was even optimistic about his appeal on his prior cases.’’
Phillips death was ruled a suicide and stated Phillips had a note that read “Do Not Resuscitate” taped to his chest, according to the autopsy report released in June 2016.
PHOTOS: Aaron Hernandez throughout the years