Aaron Hernandez was a former NFL star tight end for the New England Patriots whose promising career ended after he was arrested in 2013 for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player. Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2015 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
. While serving his sentence, Hernandez was also tried for a 2012 double homicide but was acquitted in 2017. Five days after this acquittal, on April 19, 2017, Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell from an apparent suicide by hanging. He was 27 years old
. After his death, Hernandez was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, which may have influenced his behavior
. His murder conviction was initially vacated due to his death during the appeal process but was later reinstated following a prosecutor appeal
. In summary, Aaron Hernandez's life ended tragically in prison by suicide shortly after being acquitted of a double homicide, following his conviction for another murder, and amid revelations of severe brain disease likely affecting his mental state
