Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd and five other firearm-related charges in Attleboro District Court on Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded not guilty to all six charges.
The prosecution revealed details of the investigation during the arraignment. The key takeaway from the arraignment was the prosecution’s assertion that Hernandez “orchestrated Lloyd’s execution.”
One of the more shocking details alleged that Hernandez’s own surveillance camera showed him walking around his house with a gun after the murder. A shell casing was also reportedly found in Hernandez’s rental car that matched shell casings found at the scene.
The prosecution also said that Hernandez and Lloyd got into a car together at 2:32 a.m. the morning of the murder. Surveillance cameras and a witness allegedly placed them there. Hernandez was reportedly angry with Lloyd after an incident that took place at a nightclub on Friday night.
[Related: Video of Aaron Hernandez being arrested at his home]
At 3:07 a.m. on the night he was killed, Lloyd reportedly sent a text message to his sister asking, “You know who I’m with?” He then followed up with another message at 3:23 a.m that read “NFL…just so you know.” It was reported last week that Hernandez’s neighbors heard gunshots at some point between 3:00 a.m and 3:30 a.m.
Police also claim to have surveillance video of Hernandez, while holding a firearm, saying he can’t trust anyone anymore. Lloyd is believed to have been speaking to one or more people at the nightclub that Hernandez did not like the previous Friday.
The prosecution also alleged that Hernandez drove home after Lloyd was killed, entered his house with a gun and then disposed of the gun. They say he then proceeded to disconnect his surveillance camera, which was not in operation for six to eight hours after the murder was committed. Hernandez exchanged his rental car for another vehicle the next day.
Despite Hernandez’s attorney’s attempt to convince the judge that the case was “weak” and the evidence “circumstantial,” the court ruled that he be held without bail pending further proceedings.
If the evidence presented by the prosecution holds up, Hernandez might as well have been filming a documentary of the murder.
Aaron Hernandez murder investigation timeline:
Hernandez is questioned in connection with murder
Reports say Hernandez drove car with Odin Lloyd in it night he was murdered
Hernandez reportedly destroys his home security system and cell phone
Hernandez’s neighbors say they heard gunshots morning of murder
Hernandez gets banned from Patriots’ facility
Patriots release Hernandez following arrest
