Aaron Hernandez: 8 Things We Learned From the ‘Gladiator’ Investigation

Credit: Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Aaron Hernandez: 8 Things We Learned From the ‘Gladiator’ Investigation

Eighteen months after the death of Aaron Hernandez, The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team unveiled new information about the late New England Patriots star in a six-part investigative series titled Gladiator. The Pulitzer Prize-winning team of journalists painted a portrait of Hernandez’s life through new interviews with family and friends, in addition to obtaining previously undisclosed court records, text messages, emails and recordings of nearly 300 phone calls that the NFL pro made while in jail. Here are eight things we learned about Hernandez, who died by suicide at the age of 27 in April 2017 while serving a life sentence without parole for the 2013 killing of his friend Odin Lloyd.

Credit: Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Aaron Hernandez: 8 Things We Learned From the ‘Gladiator’ Investigation

Eighteen months after the death of Aaron Hernandez, The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team unveiled new information about the late New England Patriots star in a six-part investigative series titled Gladiator. The Pulitzer Prize-winning team of journalists painted a portrait of Hernandez’s life through new interviews with family and friends, in addition to obtaining previously undisclosed court records, text messages, emails and recordings of nearly 300 phone calls that the NFL pro made while in jail. Here are eight things we learned about Hernandez, who died by suicide at the age of 27 in April 2017 while serving a life sentence without parole for the 2013 killing of his friend Odin Lloyd.

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He Was Allegedly Beaten and Sexually Abused as a Child

Hernandez’s brother, Jonathan, told the Globe that they lived in constant fear of their late father, Dennis, who allegedly beat them, sometimes impulsively and other times routinely, inside their childhood home in Bristol, Connecticut. Jonathan also claimed that Hernandez had been sexually abused as a young boy, but said that the athlete did not share the story with his brother until they were adults. Neither Jonathan nor Hernandez’s lawyer George Leontire, who also spoke about the alleged sexual abuse, identified the perpetrator.

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He Allegedly Struggled With His Sexuality

Hernandez’s classmate Dennis SanSoucie claimed to the newspaper that they had a sexual relationship that started in middle school and continued through high school. “Me and him were very much into trying to hide what we were doing. We didn’t want people to know,” SanSoucie alleged. Hernandez’s lawyers and prosecutors were also reportedly aware of his sexuality. Leontire said, “His concern always was the impact on [his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins], who he loved and who truly loved him, and had stood by him all these years, and how hurt she would be.”

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He Found Trouble Soon After High School

Hernandez graduated from Bristol Central High School six months early to start his college football career at the University of Florida. He got two traffic tickets not long after arriving in Gainesville, Florida, and later admitted to punching a local bar manager, though he never faced charges for the latter incident. According to the paper, Hernandez failed a marijuana test early in his sophomore year, which led to him being benched during the season opener. He started struggling academically during his junior year, but it did not matter because he left college at age 20 for the NFL draft and was ultimately picked to join the Patriots.

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Tom Brady Tried to Look Out for Hernandez

The Globe noted that Hernandez’s Patriots teammate Tom Brady and his former Florida classmate-turned-Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow discussed Hernandez during a brief chat on the field in 2011. “I’m trying to watch over Aaron,” Brady told Tebow before calling Hernandez “a lot to handle.”

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His Teammates Described His Behavior as Erratic

Former Patriots wide receiver Brandon Lloyd told the newspaper, “There would be swings where [Hernandez would] be the most hyper-masculine, aggressive individual in the room, where he’d be ready to fight somebody in fits of rage. Or he’d be the most sensitive person in the room, talking about cuddling with his mother.” Other unnamed teammates recalled Hernandez allegedly threatening to “f--k up” Wesley Walker after the New York Jets legend teased him during a training camp.

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He Was Paranoid About His Rival’s Threats

Hernandez’s friend Alexander Bradley was shot in the face on their way home from a Miami strip club in 2013. Bradley accused the football player of being the assailant, and they exchanged nearly 500 texts filled with threats over a three-month period, according to the report. Hernandez hired a bodyguard and had a private meeting with his coach, Bill Belichick, to seek advice. According to the Globe, Hernandez told Belichick that he feared someone would “try to take him out” and that “he and his family would be a lot safer on the other side of the country.” The coach reportedly told Hernandez that he could not trade or release him from the team as he still had six years remaining on his $41 million contract.

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He Didn’t Mind Life in His Prison Cell

The Globe released a jailhouse phone call of Hernandez telling fiancée Jenkins, with whom he shared daughter Avielle, that he was content behind bars while awaiting trial in 2014. “My room is very organized. I have everything lined up perfect, have my little trash in there, everything all folded,” he said. “I always make a nice, perfect pillow. It’s actually cozy. I think I enjoy it too much.” In a separate call with his mother, Terri, Hernandez admitted, “Jail doesn’t bother me. I’ve been the most relaxed and less stressed in jail than I have out of jail.”

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He Showed Symptoms of CTE

Hernandez’s attorney Jose Baez said in the report that his client experienced migraines during his time in prison, in addition to memory lapses and episodes of paranoia and depression. Months after the athlete’s suicide, the Boston University researchers who examined his brain determined that he had a severe form of a degenerative disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which has been linked to the repeated head trauma found in more than 100 former NFL players.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).