Judge Issues Order To Preserve Prison Evidence In Aaron Hernandez Death Investigation
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – A Massachusetts judge says he's issuing an order preserving evidence in Aaron Hernandez's prison suicide.
On Friday, Bristol Superior Court Judge Thomas McGuire said it's only fair that the ex-NFL star's family, the government and the public know exactly how he died.
Hernandez's death has officially been ruled a suicide.
Sources tell the I-Team's Cheryl Fiandaca the former Patriots star left three notes behind for his mother, 4-year-old daughter, and fiancée Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, writing "I love you" and "Please don't cry."
According to the Hernandez family lawyer, George Leontire, the state failed to make the family aware of the notes left behind by Hernandez.
"No one has called us about those suicide notes, we don't know the status of those suicide notes, we don't know what those suicide notes said -- if they are suicide notes." said Leontire. "We have not been called or told any of the circumstances around Mr. Hernandez's death. We have to read it on Twitter."
Jenkins-Hernandez filed court papers Wednesday on behalf of his estate. She asked that prison officials be barred from altering or destroying any potential evidence, including Hernandez's writings, video and audio recordings and medical records.
Attorney Mary Murray from the Department of Corrections agreed.
"The items that were taken from Mr. Hernandez's cell, all relevant videos, the AED equipment and readout, Mr. Hernandez's personal property that was in the Department of Corrections' possession have been secured," Murray claimed.
The judge denied a request that included the recordings of other inmates.
Officials say there were no signs of a struggle, and Hernandez was alone inside his cell when he hanged himself with a bed sheet.
Sources also tell the I-Team that Hernandez had the bible verse John 3:16 written on his forehead and on the wall, a word carved into his arm, and the floor of his cell covered with soapy water so he could not change his mind.
The I-Team also learned a veteran corrections officer is "detached without pay" after admitting to missing the 2 a.m. cell check and not discovering Hernandez until about an hour later.
Hernandez's attorney, Jose Baez, says the family will donate Hernandez's brain to Boston University's CTE unit, which studies the degenerative brain disease often suffered by athletes who have experienced concussions.
Baez also hopes the study may help solve the mysteries surrounding Hernandez's death.
"You don't leave any stone unturned. You do things right and the culture of misconduct and the culture of negligence that goes on in this town is befuddling it's unbelievable," said Baez.
Officials say Hernandez's body is being brought to O'Brien's Funeral Home in Bristol, Connecticut on Saturday. Wake and funeral services are set to begin Monday.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Lana Jones reports
