A Former Bristol NFL Player, a Strip Club Argument, and a Piece of Blue Gum: How Aaron Hernandez Got Caught for Murder

Aaron was not selected until the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft!

October 18, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 9, 2026

Late New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who died in a prison cell, was arrested in 2013 for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd.

On June 17, 2013, Odin Lloyd was found dead in an industrial park near Aaron Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough, Massachusetts.

After analyzing surveillance footage, phone records, and physical evidence, police arrested Hernandez on June 26, 2013, for Lloyd’s murder.

Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of all charges. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

— ESPN (@espn)

At the time, Aaron Hernandez was a tight end for the New England Patriots, renowned for his talent and burgeoning NFL career.

Late NFL Tight End Aaron Hernandez Was Sentenced to Life Without Parole for the Murder of Odin Lloyd!

After the arrest, Hernandez denied any involvement in the crime. However, as the investigation continued, more evidence began to surface.

Following police investigation reports, surveillance footage revealed that Hernandez was holding a gun shortly before and after the time of the murder.

Additionally, cellphone records also proved that during the time of the murder, Aaron and Odin were tracked in the same location.

10 years ago today: Aaron Hernandez was arrested, released by the , and charged with first-degree murder.

A stunning day in a usually quiet time for the NFL.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)

While this evidence was not enough on its own, later findings became the most compelling evidence, taking an interesting turn in the case.

According to police reports, a rental car was used during the crime scene, where they found blue bubble gum, which became the most significant evidence after the investigation.

Inside the car, investigators found a chewed piece of blue bubble gum, specifically Blue Cotton Candy Bubblicious, stuck to a spent shell casing.

Earlier that night, Hernandez had been seen on gas station footage buying that exact gum. ‘

DNA tests confirmed Hernandez had chewed the gum, and the shell casing matched the bullets used in Lloyd’s murder.

Later, after all the evidence, Aron was arrested for first-degree murder, which also later rebated the intention of murder.

According to investigative reports, Aaron Hernandez and Odin Lloyd were seen together at a Boston strip club, days before Lloyd was killed.

During that outing, Lloyd allegedly spoke to other patrons about Hernandez’s connection to a 2012 double homicide that was still under investigation at the time.

After the incident, Hernandez reportedly became angry and stormed out of the club.

Prosecutors later speculated that Hernandez may have feared Lloyd would talk to police or testify against him, especially if Lloyd knew about Hernandez’s past crimes.

This incident is widely believed to have triggered Hernandez’s decision to kill Lloyd, although no official motive was ever confirmed in court.

In Case You Don’t Know

  • While serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, Aaron Hernandez was found dead by suicide in his prison cell on April 19, 2017.
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Nishan Dahal writes sports with a human touch, covering breaking news, athlete lives, and the stories that stats can't tell. Nishan believes every athlete has a story worth telling. With the goal of bringing those stories to life with honesty, heart, and a touch of curiosity, he shares his insights through PlayerBio.

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