Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez was only 27 years old when he was found dead in a Massachusetts prison cell. The professional athlete was the youngest player on an active NFL roster for the 2010 season and earned a $40 million contract just two years later. Unfortunately, his life changed drastically in 2013, and fans are curious about what happened to Hernandez.

What Happened to Former NFL Player Aaron Hernandez?

In 2013, the former New England Patriots player was charged with the first-degree murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna JenkinsIn April 2015, he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

Prior to this conviction, he was charged with two counts of murder in the July 2012 deaths of two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, who were killed outside a Boston club in a drive-by shooting. He was later acquitted of the 2012 murders in April 2017.

Just a week after his acquittal, Hernandez was found dead at 3:05 a.m. on April 19, 2017, after hanging himself with a sheet tied to a window in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts. He was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead just over an hour later at 4:07 a.m.

Following the news of his death, Hernandez’s attorney, Jose Baezrevealed that his death was unexpected by those closest to him. The lawyer also stated that they demanded a thorough investigation by the state into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“We are shocked and surprised by the news of Aaron’s death. There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated that this scenario was a possibility,” Jose said TMZ in April 2017. “Aaron was looking forward to a second chance to prove his innocence. Those who love and care about him are heartbroken and determined to find the truth about his untimely death. We urge authorities to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation.”

Did Aaron Hernandez Have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)?

Although Hernandez’s motives for the killings were never confirmed, he was diagnosed after his death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a “brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries” that can lead to impulsive and aggressive behavior, emotional instability and suicidal thoughts, according to Mayo Clinic.

Hernandez was “plagued” by stage 3 CTE to a degree researchers had “never seen before in our 486 brains,” Ann McKeedirector of the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, said at a November 2017 press conference. “Individuals with similar gross findings … were at least 46 years old at the time of death.”

“Especially in the frontal lobes, which are very important for decision-making, judgment and cognition, we could see damage to the inner chambers of the brain,” the researcher explained. “This would be the first case we’ve ever seen of this kind of damage in such a young individual.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255