# Aaaron Hernandez found guilty of first degree murder **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 15, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737 "2015-04-15T15:13:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/41 "2017-04-19T16:21:16Z")
NM ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/42 "2017-04-19T16:24:34Z")
Bizarre ending to an already bizarre story. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/43 "2017-04-19T16:41:46Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I wonder what triggered the timing of the suicide? I’m only guessing but today is the day [the Patriots team is due to visit the White House](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?_r=0) and meet the president. It may be that this was the straw that allowed him to realize how colossally he fucked up his life. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/44 "2017-04-19T16:51:23Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > He was found [dead in his cell](http://nbc4i.com/2017/04/19/aaron-hernandez-found-dead-in-his-jail-cell/) earlier this morning. Oh Goody! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/45 "2017-04-19T17:56:33Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I’m only guessing but today is the day [the Patriots team is due to visit the White House](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?_r=0) and meet the president. It may be that this was the straw that allowed him to realize how colossally he fucked up his life. I heard the same speculation this morning on my local ESPN radio. Could be coincidence but it at least it’s something that might be a plausible explanation as to why he did it now. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/46 "2017-04-20T11:04:56Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I’m only guessing but today is the day [the Patriots team is due to visit the White House](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/sports/-new-england-patriots-visit-white-house-donald-trump.html?_r=0) and meet the president. It may be that this was the straw that allowed him to realize how colossally he fucked up his life. Why didn’t he do the deed two years ago, last time they visited the White House? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/47 "2017-04-20T13:30:52Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Why didn’t he do the deed two years ago, last time they visited the White House? While I don’t think his suicide has anything to do with the visit, he quite possibly was [on suicide watch](http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/19/aaron-hernandez-was-on-suicide-watch-in-2015/) during the 2015 visit. He was convicted on April 15 2015, the visit was on April 23, and according to that article, suicide watch is normal for those newly convicted of first degree murder. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/48 "2017-04-20T21:01:28Z")
> [@Fleetwood](#): > > Why didn’t he do the deed two years ago, last time they visited the White House? I was only speculating. That said you never know when the demons from your past might take hold of you. I had a friend commit suicide that in large part (but not completely) stemmed from something terrible he had done 20 years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/49 "2017-04-21T21:42:37Z")
And now the victims’ family wants the Patriots to pay. For some reason. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/04/21/family-of-aaron-hernandez-victim-issues-friendly-challenge-to-patriots-pay-up/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/04/21/family-of-aaron-hernandez-victim-issues-friendly-challenge-to-patriots-pay-up/) My favorite part: > [@](#): > > As noted in the bullet points above, the Patriots are under no obligation to do so. Nevertheless, Sheff said the $6 million he and Lloyd’s mother are requesting from them would be “of little consequence to the team” and would be of “tremendous assistance” to Lloyd’s family. Ah yes, the ol’ “You can afford it, and we _need_ it!!!” argument. Not that I have any love for the Patriots, but this is as shameless a money grab as I may have ever seen. What the fuck?! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/50 "2017-04-22T00:55:17Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Not that I have any love for the Patriots, but this is as shameless a money grab as I may have ever seen. What the fuck?! It would be one thing if his death was tragic like a car accident or something. That’s not the case here. He murdered someone (and there is suspicion of his involvement in more than that one murder). Hernandez did this to his family. The Patriots owe them nothing. Indeed the Patriots paid Hernandez exceptionally well and he threw it all away. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/51 "2017-04-22T17:29:31Z")
Have someone in the family (the widow, his brother) quickly write a book with a ghost writer while people are paying attention to the story. That might be a great way to do a cash grab. The Patriots aren’t going to pay and don’t have to; his contract was ended before he was even convicted due to the arrest and his conduct prior to it. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/52 "2017-04-22T23:34:39Z")
A “friendly challenge”? Really? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/53 "2017-04-23T13:35:35Z")
[The latest gossip:](http://www.advocate.com/sports/2017/4/22/report-fear-being-outed-prompted-killing-aaron-hernandez?utm_content=inf_10_2867_2&utm_source=se&utm_medium=inf&utm_campaign=SE-INF&tse_id=INF_4da86a9027e011e7ab1b4bd69f1788b7) He didn’t want to be outed, and his prison bitch is now under his own suicide watch. FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/54 "2017-11-09T22:11:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > > > So, what was wrong with the man? His record of violence seems to go back to at least 2007 when he was 17 with lots of shootings in-between. > > Who knows? > > Sometimes it’s literally brain damage - not necessarily football related. [Brain damage](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/11/researcher_aaron_hernandezs_brain_tissue_reveals_severe_damage), almost definitely football related. > [@](#): > > Former Patriots player Aaron Hernandez had severe damage to his brain from sports-related head injuries that are known to impede decision-making and cause aggression, said a Boston University researcher who announced the pathology results today. > > :snip: > > “These are very unusual findings for someone so young,” she said, noting other brains with similar damage came from men at least 20 years older. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/55 "2017-11-09T22:31:22Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > [Brain damage](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2017/11/researcher_aaron_hernandezs_brain_tissue_reveals_severe_damage), almost definitely football related. He was also a gang member and involved in fist fights. Its impossible to know what caused his brain injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/56 "2017-11-09T22:49:37Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > He was also a gang member and involved in fist fights. Its impossible to know what caused his brain injuries. Dunno about you but I put my faith in a university researcher who says “sports-related head injuries” rather than some random Internet person. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/57 "2017-11-09T23:36:02Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Dunno about you but I put my faith in a university researcher who says “sports-related head injuries” rather than some random Internet person. But what do they have to compare it to? The BU study is examining the brains of NFL players and military to look for CTE. They’re not studying gang members or bouncers or whatever. So Hernandez’s brain matches patterns of severe CTE seen in older NFL players, but we don’t know if gang members might also show similar patterns because the data just isn’t there. They label it sports-related because that’s the comparison they have and the known data set of his occupation, but that might not be the whole story, and I’m sure they’d say as much. Hernandez got into a lot of fights in high school. There must have been _some_ unknown factor that made his CTE so severe, because it wasn’t as if he played 3x as many games as anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737/58 "2017-11-10T04:54:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Aaron Hernandez suffered the most severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy ever discovered in a person his age, damage that would have significantly affected his decision-making, judgment and cognition, researchers at Boston University revealed at a medical conference Thursday. > > Ann McKee, the head of BU’s CTE Center, which has studied the disease caused by repetitive brain trauma for more than a decade, called Hernandez’s brain “one of the most significant contributions to our work” because of the brain’s pristine condition and the rare opportunity to study the disease in a 27-year-old. > > We can’t take the pathology and explain the behavior,” McKee said. “But we can say collectively, in our collective experience, that individuals with CTE, and CTE of this severity, have difficulty with impulse control, decision-making, inhibition of impulses for aggression, emotional volatility, rage behaviors. We know that collectively.” > [@](#): > > McKee said Hernandez had a genetic marker that makes people vulnerable to certain brain diseases and could have contributed to how aggressively he developed CTE. > > “We know that that’s a risk factor for neurogenerative disease,” McKee said. “Whether or not that contributed in this case is speculative. It may explain some of his susceptibility to this disease.” > **[Aaron Hernandez suffered from most severe CTE ever found in a person his age](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/aaron-hernandez-suffered-from-most-severe-cte-ever-found-in-a-person-his-age/2017/11/09/fa7cd204-c57b-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html?utm_term=.8fd3c6fcef8e)** > > Doctors release postmortem findings for former Patriots tight end who hanged himself in prison. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aaaron-hernandez-found-guilty-of-first-degree-murder/717737.md?page=2)