Research finds that Aaron Hernandez had severe C.T.E after death
In an announcement of the findings on Thursday, a lawyer for the Hernandez family said it was “the most severe case they had ever seen in someone of Aaron’s age.”
(Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
When the results of Aaron Hernandez’s brain scan came back and doctors were shocked, at the age of 27 Hernandez showed signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, C.T.E, that are usually found in people well into their 60’s. In an announcement of the findings on Thursday, a lawyer for the Hernandez family said it was “the most severe case they had ever seen in someone of Aaron’s age.”
Aaron Hernandez, the former Patriot’s receiver, was 27 when he committed suicide last April. At the time, Hernandez was serving a lifetime sentence for a murder that he committed in Boston.
According to Boston University, C.T.E. has been found in more than 100 former NFL players, many of whom committed suicide. Researching C.T.E is rather difficult because it can only be determined if someone has it after death. Seeing as this is the case, Boston University, the lead research institution in this field, has had a tough time gathering brain scans from a large enough amount of people.
Researchers say that cannot exactly pinpoint what caused Hernandez’s violent outbreak, but C.T.E. likely could have contributed to it, studies have shown that the brain disorder can cause aggression, dementia, as well as mood swings.
Recently, the NFL has faced scrutiny from the public after the suicides of players who were diagnosed with C.T.E. post-mortem, including Junior Seau, Dave Duerson, Andre Waters, and Ray Easterling to name a few. Football legends such as Ken Stabler and Frank Gifford were also found to after C.T.E. after they passed from natural causes.
Since the findings, the Hernandez family has sued the NFL and the New England Patriots organization for upwards of 20 million. The lawsuit claims that yearly physicals should have recognized signs of cognitive impairment.
Since research found that Hernandez had severe C.T.E, the family has sued the NFL and the New England Patriots organization for upwards of 20 million dollars. The lawsuit claims that yearly physicals should have recognized signs of cognitive impairment.
Luke Cahill
Staff Reporter
Aaron Hernadez: Life Timeline
Get a glimpse at at timeline of Aaron Hernandez's career in sports.
(Photos: Associated Press, Jim Rogash/Getty Images, Nike, Inc, Susan Candiotti/CNN, George Rizer/Getty Images, Associated Press, Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe)
Luke Cahill Staff Reporter
Aaron Hernandez is Acquitted in Double Murder Trial
Don’t cry over spilled milk, unless you happen to be an NFL star, of course.
(Photo: Stephan Savoia)
Don’t cry over spilled milk, unless you happen to be an NFL star, of course. On April 14 former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez was acquitted for double murder over what prosecutors are saying was a result of anger provoked by a spilled drink. The 27 year old is already serving a life sentence for a murder committed in 2013. Dodging the first-degree murder charges, Hernandez was charged only with unlawful possession of a gun, adding four to five years to his existing sentence.
The families of victims Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado are crushed by the outcome of the trial, and feel especially upset with how the defense portrayed the deceased men as drug dealers and gang bangers. "These were two hardworking, humble, Cape Verdean immigrants," according to their lawyer, who feels, "It was unnecessary and it was wrong, and it shouldn't have been done."
From a different perspective, one of Hernandez’s defense lawyers, Jose Baez remarked, "I wish he'd called me (for the first trial). I think there are plenty of flaws in that conviction. If they are exposed properly, he certainly can and should get a new trial." And this is not Baez’s first time going to court for a famous case - he is known for representing Casey Anthony in the acquittal of the death of her daughter in 2008. Baez and his team of defense attorneys theorize that Hernandez’s friend Alexander Bradley played an important role in the murders and that he was a negative influence in Hernandez’s life.
Alanna Shingler Staff Reporter