Early Wednesday morning, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell after apparently committing suicide.
While state police will investigate Hernandez’s suicide, Hernandez’s legal team will also be conducting its own investigation.
“The family and legal team is shocked and surprised at the news of Aaron’s death,” Hernandez’s defense lawyer, Jose Baez, said in a statement this morning. “There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated anything like this was possible. 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.”
Baez added: “The Baez Law Firm will participate in its own examination into this tragic event and update the media and public on its findings when they become available.”
The 27-year-old was found hanging in his cell at around 3:05 AM on Wednesday morning. The former tight end apparently hung himself with a bed sheet.
Seeing as it happened in prison, an investigation has already been started by a division of the Massachusetts State Police.
“The Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Correction are investigating the death of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez at the Souza-Baranowski Correction Center,” Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said in a statement.
But Hernandez’s defense team wants its own investigation conducted, simply because of how surprising the death was.
Ronald Sullivan, a member of Hernandez’s most recent defense team, told the Boston Herald a statement would be forthcoming, “but right now, we just don’t have enough information to comment.”
Hernandez was in his own cell and attempted to block the door from the inside. While everyone is assuming suicide as the most likely scenario for Hernandez’s death, there was no suicide note, Fallon said.
An autopsy is currently underway in Boston by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
