Hernandez Questioned, Home Searched in Connection with Possible Homicide
New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had his home searched by police Tuesday night in North Attleborough, Mass., in connection with a possible homicide.
Police visited Hernandez Monday after a jogger found a body in a park less than a mile from Hernandez’s home. The body was identified as 27-year-old Odin Lloyd from Dorchester. Lloyd was a linebacker for the Boston Bandits, a semi-professional football team.
Hernandez was originally believed not to be a suspect, as reported by Sports Illustrated, but according to CBS, he has not been ruled out as a suspect. The original link between Hernandez and the homicide case is a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban rented from Enterprise in his name, which investigators hoped to retain for fingerprints.
Hernandez’s house was searched for several hours Tuesday night while the nearby industrial park was also examined. Two men attempted to leave Hernandez’s house mid-search, but police stopped them at the end of the driveway and their car was searched. Police removed a box from the house before concluding the search for the evening.
Police returned to Hernandez’s home Wednesday morning, but nobody answered when they knocked on the door. They would not speak to reporters.
A spokesman for Hernandez had no comment. Hernandez’s mother, via telephone Tuesday, said she had no knowledge of the case.
Patriots spokesman Stacey James said the organization was aware of reports of Hernandez’s connection to the case, but did not anticipate that they “will be commenting publicly during an ongoing police investigation.”
UPDATE: News also arose Wednesday morning via TMZ that Hernandez was sued earlier this month for allegedly shooting a man in the face during an altercation at a strip club in Miami in February. Hernandez was not licensed to carry the weapon, and the man reportedly suffered “major injuries,” including the loss of his right eye. The case was dismissed in four days, but the legal team plans to resubmit it due to an error in the paperwork.
The 2010 fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Florida caught 51 passes last season for the Patriots and scored five touchdowns in limited playing time due to an ankle injury. In 38 career NFL games, he has 175 receptions for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns.
