Aaron Hernandez was arrested and convicted in 2013 of killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. This led to him receiving life imprisonment without parole; later acquitted of previous double homicide charge but his subsequent suicide left many questions unanswered; over time several theories have surfaced offering possible motives behind Hernandez killing Lloyd – we explore them below to understand more fully why this may have been done.
Would Lloyd Be Murdered Based On Previous Crime Knowledge?
One popular theory suggests that Lloyd may have been killed as a result of what he knew about Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado being shot after leaving Boston’s Cure Lounge. Hernandez had been implicated in this double homicide. Although multiple witnesses saw Hernandez near the scene and nightclub security footage showed him inside, Alexander S. Bradley’s testimony as Hernandez’s drug dealer was heavily relied upon by the prosecution; however, Bradley had ongoing disputes with Hernandez which cast doubt upon his reliability as an eyewitness account of events. Furthermore, it’s speculated that Lloyd knew about Hernandez’s involvement and could potentially pose as a witness which led him to silence him to avoid legal implications for himself and protect himself from legal consequences.
Does Hernandez Want to Hide His Sexual Orientation by Killing Lloyd?
A second theory postulates that Hernandez attempted to conceal his sexual orientation by killing Lloyd. Reelz documentary Aaron Hernandez: Jailhouse Lover Tells All featured Kyle Kennedy who claimed they had engaged in sexual relations while both being held at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. Kennedy described their bond as strong, saying they did “everything together.” The New Yorker investigated how speculation about Hernandez’s sexuality may have contributed to his suicide; other sources believe Lloyd discovered it and threatened to expose it; Hernandez may have stated, “You can’t trust anyone,” reflecting paranoia over Lloyd revealing it and thus pushing him over the brink.
How Did Hernandez’s Troubled Past and Substance Abuse Play Into His Decision-Making Process?
Hernandez experienced many personal and familial hardships during his upbringing. His fatherDennis, a former convict with football aspirations who tried to steer them away from criminality through football coaching efforts, struggled mightily to steer his sons away from that path. After Dennis died when Aaron was 16-years old, Hernandez felt overwhelmed and turned to criminal activities as an escape. An abusive partner eventually moved in with them – further destabilizing his stability. No amount of coaching could help Hernandez deal with his grief, leading to substance abuse and paranoia. He often carried a gun around with him and used angel dust as reported by Rolling Stone; any perceived slight could trigger violent action that resulted in Lloyd’s death.
Could Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Have Influenced Hernandez’s Behavior?
After Hernandez died, an autopsy revealed he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease often found among professional football players. CTE can lead to mood swings, depression, impulsivity and suicidal thoughts which may have aggravated his already irregular behavior and may have even prompted violent outbursts; some speculate Lloyd’s association with those criticizing Hernandez may have provoked him into such behavior as well.
What Insights Might Future Investigations Bring?
Although Aaron Hernandez committed his murder of Odin Lloyd long after it occurred, theories regarding why and how it happened remain popular with the public. Fear of exposure, unresolved grief, substance addiction and CTE may all have played a part. Ryan Murphy’s American Sports Story series will delve further into Hernandez’s life and Lloyd’s death; hopefully providing fresh insight into one of NFL history’s most tragic episodes.
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