New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been in the public eye recently in connection to the murder of 27-year old Odin Lloyd. ABC News reported Thursday Hernandez is still a person of interest in the murder investigation. Sources say police served a search warrant for Hernandez’s house because there was evidence “he destroyed his home security system.”
Authorities were also handed a Hernandez-used cellphone which was “in pieces,” according to sources.
Lloyd’s body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez’s home North Attleborough, Massachusetts. Lloyd was shot execution-style in the back of the head. Police believe he was killed Monday between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. He played semi-pro football for the Boston Bandits.
One police official told ABC News: “[Hernandez] has not been ruled out. We are not calling him a suspect, but he is definitely not in the clear.”
Lloyd was found in the park by a jogger, according to sources. He and Hernandez were friends.
Police have searched the star tight-end’s home multiple times. He lives in the house with his girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins and their baby daughter. Jenkins sister Shayanna had been dating Lloyd.
Authorities looked through three Enterprise rentals that were registered to Hernandez. A mirror on one had been knocked off. One of the rental cars was found near the scene, which allowed law enforcement to connect Hernandez to the homicide.
Hernandez’s attorney Michael Fee has issued a statement about the situation:
"It has been widely reported in the media that the state police have searched the home of our client, Aaron Hernandez, as part of an ongoing investigation. Out of respect for that process, neither we nor Aaron will have any comment about the substance of that investigation until it has come to a conclusion."
On behalf of the team, Patriots official Stacey James recently said, "I am aware of the reports, but I do not anticipate that we will be commenting publicly during an ongoing police investigation."
Hernandez is also facing a lawsuit from an ex-friend who says he shot him in the face, causing the ex-friend to lose an eye.
