
Convicted killer and former NFL star Aaron Hernandez may have cleared his own name by committing suicide in a Massachusetts prison cell early this morning.

Under a long-standing state legal principle, courts customarily vacate the convictions of defendants who die before their appeals are heard.

The former Patriot tight end was found hanged by his own bed sheets at 3am this morning at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts.

It comes less than a week after he was acquitted of the murders of two Boston men in 2012. He was already serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's finance.

Hernandez's attorneys can move to have the conviction in the Lloyd case erased, said Martin Healy, chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Bar Association.

'For all intent and practical purposes, Aaron Hernandez will die an innocent man,' said Healy.

Hernandez's shock suicide comes on the same day that his former teammates are scheduled to be honored at the White House for their recent Super Bowl win.

Hours after Hernandez's death, quarterback Tom Brady said he would not be attending the Patriots celebration.

He cited 'recent developments' and said he was 'attending to some personal family matters'. He thanked President Trump for 'supporting our team as long as I can remember'.

He later posted a photo on Instagram of his parents - thanking them for their loving relationship.

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Aaron Hernandez (above on Friday) was found hanged in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning

Hernandez (left holding a gun in a 2009 photo, right in 2012) was already serving a life sentence for murder when he was cleared on Friday of killing two other men in Boston in 2012. In a bizarre twist his suicide may now clear his name

Left behind: Hernandez leaves behind his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins and a four-year-old daughter (above in court last Wednesday). He was seen blowing them kisses during jury deliberations

Christopher Fallon, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Communications of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, sent out a message after Hernandez's death on Wednesday.

'On April 19, 2017 Aaron Hernandez was discovered hanged in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley Massachusetts at approximately 3:05 a.m., lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez and he was transported to UMASS Leominster where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. by a physician at the hospital,' said Fallon.

'Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit. Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window.

'Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items. The Massachusetts State Police are on scene and the investigation continues. Mr. Hernandez’s next of kin have been notified.'

A spokesperson for the Patriots said that the team would not be commenting on Hernandez's death at this time, stating: 'We are aware of the reports, but I don't anticipate that we will be commenting today.'

Reports suggest that Hernandez had a violent record in prison, including many fights with other inmates, but he has never attempted suicide.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident, and will take a look at what time he went to his cell, the last time he was seen by guards and if there had been any recent incidents between Hernandez and other inmates.

Investigators will also examine the recent phone calls and visits that Hernandez received, with a prison official stating he was not on suicide watch at the time of his death.

Hernandez's attorney Jose Baez is claiming that he and the family believe that the former football star was murdered, and did not commit suicide.

'There were no conversations or correspondence from Aaron to his family or legal team that would have indicated anything like this was possible,' said Baez.

'Aaron was looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence.'

Baez did not comment on whether they would be applying to have Hernandez's conviction vacated under the Massachusetts 'abatement ab initio' or 'from the beginning' principle.

'He will die an innocent man': How Hernandez's cowardly suicide clears his name forever In death, Aaron Hernandez may not be a guilty man in the eyes of the law. Under a long-standing Massachusetts legal principle, courts customarily vacate the convictions of defendants who die before their appeals are heard. Hernandez, a former NFL star, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's finance. Massachusetts prison officials said Hernandez was found hanging in his prison cell early Wednesday. His death came less than a week after he acquitted of murder charges in the shooting deaths of two men in Boston in 2012. Hernandez's attorneys can move to have the conviction in the Lloyd case erased, said Martin Healy, chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Bar Association. "For all intent and practical purposes, Aaron Hernandez will die an innocent man, but the court of public opinion may think differently," said Healy. The legal principle is called "abatement ab initio," or "from the beginning." It holds that is unfair to the defendant or to his or her survivors if a conviction is allowed to stand before they had a chance to clear their names on appeal, in case some kind or error or other injustice was determined to have occurred at trial, Healy said. "It's a surprising result for the public to understand," he added. Hernandez's appeal had not yet been heard by the state's high court. Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for the district attorney's office which prosecuted the Lloyd case, would not comment on the possibility of the conviction being vacated. Removing a conviction after the death of a high-profile defendant is not without precedent in recent state history. The child molestation conviction of former Roman Catholic priest John Geoghan, a key figure in the clergy sex abuse scandal that rocked the Boston archdiocese, was vacated after he was beaten to death in 2003 in his cell at the same Massachusetts maximum-security prison. John Salvi, who convicted of killing two abortion clinic workers and wounding five other people during shooting rampage in Brookline in 1994, also had his convictions tossed after he killed himself in prison. Advertisement

However, there has been success for legal teams using the argument in recent years.

The child molestation conviction of former Roman Catholic priest John Geoghan, a key figure in the clergy sex abuse scandal that rocked the Boston archdiocese, was vacated after he was beaten to death in 2003 in his cell at the same Massachusetts maximum-security prison.

John Salvi, who convicted of killing two abortion clinic workers and wounding five other people during shooting rampage in Brookline in 1994, also had his convictions tossed after he killed himself in prison.

Some have also speculated that the move could help protect Hernandez's remaining fortune for his partner and daughter.

Any civil lawsuits against the former athlete by his victims and alleged victims will be allowed to proceed but will now be more complicated given his convictions are vacated.

In the case of Odin Lloyd no evidence used in Hernandez's trial will be allowed in civil court, according to the Boston Globe.

However, it is unclear just how much of the football star's wealth remains given hefty legal bills from his defense.

Tantalizing tandem: Hernandez and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski (above in 2012) proved to be a near unstoppable duo after they were both drafted on to the team in 2010

Friend indeed: Hernandez was also a favorite of quarterback Tom Brady, who utilized the tight end in a big way during the 2010 Super Bowl (pair above in 2010)

Holy moly: Hernandez greets Tim Tibeow after defeating the Broncos in the 2012 AFC Division Playoff Game (above)

Bowl game: Hernandez celebrates after receiving the SEC Championship Trophy following a 31-20 win over top-ranked Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship

This picture of a cell at the prison was taken ahead of Hernandez being transferred there from another facility. It is believed he was in a cell similar to this, but not this one specifically. The photo was published by NBC10

Hernandez was an All-American tight end at the University of Florida and was named a Pro Bowl alternative in his second season in the NFL with the Patriots.

TIMELINE IN AARON HERNANDEZ'S CASE: July 16, 2012: Two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, are shot to death in their car as they wait at a red light in Boston's South End neighborhood. Aug. 27, 2012: Hernandez signs a five-year, $40million contract with the New England Patriots. February 2013: An associate, Alexander Bradley, is shot in the face in Florida. Bradley files a lawsuit alleging that Hernandez shot him after they argued at a strip club. June 17, 2013: The body of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee, is found about a mile from Hernandez's mansion in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. June 26, 2013: Hernandez is arrested on a murder charge in Lloyd's slaying and later pleads not guilty. The Patriots release him hours after his arrest. May 15, 2014: Hernandez is indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the shootings of de Abreu and Furtado. May 28, 2014: Hernandez pleads not guilty to charges in connection with the deaths of de Abreu and Furtado. Jan. 9, 2015: Hernandez goes on trial for murder in Lloyd's killing. April 15, 2015: Hernandez is convicted of first-degree murder; carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Feb. 14, 2017: Hernandez goes on trial for murder in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. April 7, 2017: The jury begins deliberating. April 14, 2017: Hernandez acquitted of murder in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. April 19, 2017: Hernandez is found dead in his single-unit jail cell after hanging himself with a bed sheet. Advertisement

At 20 years old, he started the 2010 season as the youngest player on any active roster in the NFL.

He was selected by the team in the fourth round of the NFL draft that year and quickly proved to be one to watch in the league.

In his first two seasons with the Patriots he proved to be such an asset that he was signed to a five year contract extension in August 2012 worth a staggering $40million.

That bonus came after his commanding performance in the 2012 Super Bowl earlier that year, during which he scored a touchdown and lead the team in yards despite their loss to the New York Giants.

Hernandez's 2012 season was his best yet, and he seemed to have everything going for him as he and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski proved to be an indestructible tandem and were both league leaders in yards, receptions and touchdowns.

Then, that November, things got even better when his longtime girlfriend gave birth to their daughter.

With so much going his way, Hernandez made the decision to throw it all away in the off season when he murdered Lloyd in June 2013, with the Patriots releasing him soon after his arrest.

He has been in prison ever since, and soon after his arrest was also indicted for the murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado who were found shot to death in their car as they waited at a red light in Boston's South End neighborhood.

The Wall Street Journal revealed a month after Hernandez's arrest for the murder of Lloyd that the Patriots were aware of concerning behaviors exhibited by the tight end before they made the decision to draft him three years prior.

In a test given to almost all NFL prospects, Hernandez's ranked incredibly low for social maturity and it was noted that his responses 'suggest he enjoys living on the edge of acceptable behavior and that he may be prone to partying too much and doing questionable things that could be seen as a problem for him and his team.'

The reward was greater than the risk for the Patriots in the end, and after two seasons without incident it seemed logical for the team to resign the star tight end to a contract extension.

His fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins Hernandez, and their four-year-old daughter attended court during jury deliberations, and Hernandez was seen blowing them kisses when he was cleared of the 2012 double homicide of de Abreu and Furtado last week.

The football star was reduced to tears in that moment when a jury declared him not guilty in the death of the two men, who the prosecution had argued were murdered by Hernandez for spilling a drink on the football star.

Soon after, it was reported that Hernandez would be appealing his initial murder conviction in hopes of having his life sentence commuted.

Some stars and athletes have taken to social media to respond gushingly to Hernandez's death despite his murder conviction.

'To my friend my brother! Through thick and thin right or wrong we never left each other's side. Today my heart hurts as I got the worse news I could have imagined. It was just a day ago we shared our last convo,' wrote Mike Pouncey, who played with Hernandez in Florida and is now on the Miami Dolphins.

'I will forever miss you and love you bro. we will meet again rest easy!'

A visibly emotional Hernandez was accused of killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a drive-by shooting in July 2012 in Boston's South End after an altercation outside a night club

THE OTHER PATRIOTS SKIPPING THE WHITE HOUSE CELEBRATION Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty Bennett - who has since left the team to sign for the Green Bay Packers - and McCourty skipped out on the White House for purely political reasons, as both said they specifically did not want to meet Donald Trump. Bennett, the first Patriots player to announce a boycott, made it clear he wasn't going to visit before New England won the Super Bowl. Asked before the game, he told the Dallas Morning News: 'No, because I don't support the guy that's in the house.' Martellus Bennett (left) - who has since left the team to sign for the Green Bay Packers - and Devin McCourty (right) skipped out on the White House for purely political reasons, as both said they specifically did not want to meet Donald Trump McCourty's reasoning for not going is that he said he doesn't 'feel accepted in the White House.' 'I'm not going to the White House,' McCourty, 29, told Time magazine. 'The president having so many strong opinions and prejudices, I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't.' Both McCourty and Bennett made headlines in September when they raised their firsts high at the end of the national anthem in order to 'start the conversation' about social injustice. Chris Long Long, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, announced his decision on Twitter, in response to an open letter from Chuck Modiano of the New York Daily News. 'Oh Chuck. Planned on skipping, hadn't been asked. Don't need an open letter explaining my own words to me. Not *joining* anyone. My call,' Long wrote. The 32-year-old has since left the team and joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Hightower - a two-time Super Bowl champion - said he had already 'been there, done that', in reference to the presidential meet and greet Dont'a Hightower Hightower - a two-time Super Bowl champion - said he had already 'been there, done that', in reference to the presidential meet and greet, during an appearance on ESPN's Sportscenter. It was not the first time he had declining the trip, as Hightower did not go on the traditional visit when the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2014. However, he did visit President Obama while he was a member of the University of Alabama team to win the college football championship. Alan Branch Branch is another Patriot who said his reasons for skipping the Trump meeting was not political in nature. The defensive lineman, who visited the White House in 2014, said he would rather 'hang out with the family'. LeGarrette Blount Blount was about as blunt as you could be when explaining why he was not visiting the White House. He said earlier this year on the Rich Eisen Show: 'I will NOT be going to the White House. 'I don't feel welcome in that house. I'll leave it at that.' The running back is currently a free agent. Advertisement

Off he goes: Hernandez is seen in handcuffs being led out of his house in June 2013 following the murder of Llloyd

Talking it out: Belichick in July 2014 as he prepares to address the press for the first time in regards to Hernandez

Happier days: Hernandez and girlfriend Jenkins back in 2011 after he was drafted by the Patriots

Final stop: A view of the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (above) where Hernandez was found dead

From first round draft pick to convicted felon: The rise and fall of $40million Patriots star Aaron Hernandez Back in 2010 University of Florida star Aaron Hernandez was lauded as 'unquestionably one of the best receiving tight ends' ahead of that year's NFL draft The fact that the star slipped to the 15th pick in the fourth round and into the hands of the New England Patriots may have been surprising based on his football acumen alone, but became more easy to understand when his off-the-field behavior sensationally hit the headlines - ultimately leading to three separate murder accusations and his own shocking suicide For Hernandez fans, his recruitment to his hometown team couldn't have been more of a fairytale. The tight end had grown up in Bristol, Connecticut, where he broke almost every record as a football player for Bristol Central High School His father Dennis Hernandez was a dedicated supporter of Aaron and his older brother DJ's talents on the field. However, he was unable to see that talent come to fruition or the scandal that followed, dying of hernia surgery when Hernandez was 16. Aaron's mother Terri said his death was the reason her youngest son couldn't cope with authority 'It was a rough process, and I didn't know what to do for him,' she told USA Today in 2009. 'He would rebel. It was very, very hard, and he was very, very angry. He wasn't the same kid, the way he spoke to me. The shock of losing his dad, there was so much anger.' But Hernandez was soon recruited to the University of Florida where college football legend Urban Meyer was tasked with putting the headstrong Hernandez to work with the Gators According to family and Hernandez himself, Meyer became a father figure and soon settled the star into his new surroundings He also found stability in his long-term girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins whom he met in high school in 2007 and stayed with throughout college - and ultimately until his death at age 27 In 2012 the pair welcomed their daughter Avielle Janelle - now four - and got engaged. Hernandez called her birth a 'life changer' However, those early days didn't see Hernandez completely out of trouble - even if much of his exploits were yet to hit the headlines In 2007, 17-year-old Hernandez refused to pay a restaurant bill and punched a waiter in the head - rupturing his eardrum. The incident was settled out of court At the NFL combine he admitted having issues with marijuana - including failing at least one drug test while at the Gators. At the time, drugs were broadly accepted as the reason for Hernandez's drop on the draft leader-board. SInce then, however, there has been some suggestion teams knew more A confidential scouting service report revealed by the WSJ warned Hernandez enjoyed 'living on the edge of acceptable behavior' which could become 'a problem' for his future employer The former general manager of the Colts admitted they 'steered clear' of Hernandez because 'there were questions there'. But the Patriots didn't feel the same. On June 8 2010, Hernandez was signed to a four year contract with a bonus of $200,000 - a smaller amount than an NFL recruit of his caliber would expect, but one that would soon be upped if Hernandez performed on the field, which he undoubtedly did Hernandez finished the 2010 season with 45 receptions for 563 yards and 6 touchdowns over 14 games. He was given the number 81 jersey in 2011 and scored a touchdown at the 2012 Super Bowl that the Patriots ultimately lost to the Giants The next time Hernandez's teammates would take to a Super Bowl field was in 2015. Hernandez was banned from watching, sitting in a 70-square-foot solitary confinement cell in the Special Management Unit at North Dartmouth jail Similarly he was banned from watching his team beat the Falcons in February this year, but in letters to fans remained devoted to the cause, saying he rooted for the team and 'loved' Tom Brady 'to death' Hernandez's last NFL game was on January 20 2013 against the Ravens. Five months later he renewed his contract with the team with a $40 million extension and a $12.5 million signing bonus which was the largest ever given to a tight end 'I’m engaged now, and I have a baby. So, it’s just gonna make me think of life a lot differently and doing things the right way,' Hernandez told NESN at the time. 'Now, another one is looking up to me. I can’t just be young and reckless Aaron no more. I’m gonna try to do the right things, become a good father and [her] be raised like I was raised.' The touching words didn't match the star's secretive behavior On June 17, 2013, the body of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee, was found about a mile from Hernandez's mansion in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. Six days later Hernandez was sensationally arrested for the murder and led from his home in handcuffs. He pleaded not guilty but the Patriots released him within hours A former friend of Hernandez, Alexander Bradley filed a lawsuit shortly after the body was found, accusing the millionaire athlete of shooting him in the face, permanently damaging his eye He claimed the pair had got into a fight at a strip club - prosecutors allege it was Hernandez's attempt to cover up his gangster-like life that he believed Bradley would expose Hernandez settled that lawsuit in February 2016 for an undisclosed sum Charged with the murder of Lloyd and facing Bradley's lawsuit, police began to investigate Hernandez's history and a year later the one time NFL great was indicted on a further two counts of first-degree murder Two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, had been shot to death in their car as they waited at a red light in Boston's South End neighborhood on July 16 2012 Prosecutors said Hernandez was angry because de Abreu accidentally bumped into him at a nightclub while dancing, spilling his drink. Hernandez pleaded not guilty. A year later he was found guilty of killing Lloyd and handed a mandatory life sentence Hernandez was acquitted of murder in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado on April 14 Hernandez broke down in tears at the verdict - waving and blowing kisses to his fiancee and young daughter, almost seven years to the day that he was selected by the Patriots and began what should have been a life of riches and adoration from thousands of fans But ultimately ended with him as a convicted killer and led to him hanging himself in a tiny jail cell - the same day as his teammates head to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl success Advertisement

Hernandez was accused of killing Abreu and Furtado in a drive-by shooting in July 2012 in Boston's South End after an altercation outside a night club.

He had pleaded not guilty in the Massachusetts trial.

On Friday, the jury acquitted Hernandez on seven of eight charges after deliberating for 37 hours. He was convicted only on an illegal firearms charge.

The other charges against Hernandez included armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Hernandez was overcome with emotion as the verdict was read, moving his head from side to side, wiping his eyes and weeping.

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said: 'We're disappointed. The jury just didn't see it our way.'

The decision came almost exactly two years after the former New England Patriots tight end was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player in June 2013.

The 2015 conviction cemented a spectacular fall from grace for Hernandez, who once had a $40million, five-year contract with the Patriots.

The team dropped Hernandez just hours after his arrest on June 26, 2013, nine days after Lloyd was found dead.

Victims: Hernandez was accused of shooting dead Safiro Furtado (left) and Daniel de Abreu (right) at a Boston nightclub in 2012

Hernandez is already serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd, pictured on the screen in the courtroom in January 2015

Jenkins and Hernandez's mother Terri hug in court back in April 2015 as the guilty verdict is read during his 2015 murder trial

The team is the first championship team - after winning the Super Bowl - that Trump will host in Washington, DC.

Six players will not attend the visit: LeGarrette Blount, Alan Branch, Dont'a Hightower, Chris Long and Martellus Bennett have said they won't be attending.

All but Hightower have cited political reasons for not attending the event.

In 2015, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady skipped the White House visit with then-President Barack Obama, citing a family commitment.