Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez stood expressionless as a Boston judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole Wednesday morning.
Hernandez, the $40 million player who once garnered the largest signing bonus ever for an NFL tight end, was convicted for the 2013 murder of friend Odin Lloyd. Massachusetts-area jurors found him guilty on all charges, including the unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
At one point, he appeared to shake his head "no" and mouthed "wrong" towards the jury.
The verdict is subject to an automatic appeal under the state's law, though Hernandez's defense faces an uphill climb going forward. Hernandez is also awaiting trial in an unrelated 2012 double killing in Boston. He has pled not guilty to both counts.
"I felt like I wanted to go into the hole with my son, Odin," Lloyd's mother Ursula Ward told reporters after Hernandez was sentenced. "I will never have a grandchild from my son, or grandchildren. I will never get to dance at his wedding."
According to jurors - who deliberated for over 35 hours - the deciding factor was in the defense's admission that Hernandez was present when Lloyd was murdered.
Prosecutors had no murder weapon, no cooperative witnesses, and no way of positively linking Hernandez to the industrial park where Lloyd's body was found in June 2013. All they had was a circumstantial piece of gum attached to a shell casing left in Hernandez's rental car.
In the court of public opinion, Hernandez was guilty before testimony began last January. Aside from his alleged involvement in the Boston shooting, Hernandez was linked to a 2013 Miami shootout following an altercation at a strip club. Alexander Bradley lost an eye in the conflict, but declined identify his assailant.
Evidence gathered in Lloyd's death didn't help his case. Hernandez destroyed home surveillance camera and a cellular phone. He asked girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins to dispose of a box prosecutors believe held the gun used to kill Lloyd, even if Jenkins claims not to know what the box contained nor where she disposed of it.
NFL players, who normally rally around their own, have distanced themselves from Hernandez over time. On Wednesday, they expressed shock and remorse.
Damn Hernandez let's this be a lesson people make wise decisions and watch the company you keep
— Chris Baker (@cbaker92redskin) April 15, 2015
Aaron Hernandez is trying to hold it together right now. It's gone hurt when he goes back to his cell. I know the feeling. — Maurice Clarett (@ReeseClarett13) April 15, 2015
He was found guilty, and should do the time. But man... That's not the guy I knew. How could that happen. WHY did that happen.
— David Nelson (@DavidNelson86) April 15, 2015
No sign of remorse. Very very sad situation for both families. #AaronHernandez — Matt Overton (@MattOverton_LS) April 15, 2015
They really just made a example of Aaron Hernandez now how about we make a example out of all the cops killing backs....I'm just saying
— Dj Bryant (@djbryant13) April 15, 2015
Hernandez was sent to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution after the trial. The maximum security prison is just 3.4 miles from Gillette Stadium - home of the Patriots.
Watch Hernandez and Lloyd's family's reaction to the verdict below.
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