Pool/Reuters
Massachusetts state investigators hid evidence of former New England Patriots star and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez’s synthetic drug use in prison in the days leading up to his suicide, according to a report in the Boston Globe. In the 132-page public report on Hernandez’s death, the Globe notes, one inmate interview was partially redacted—but in that interview, according to a copy of the full document, a fellow inmate said Hernandez “spent the last two days smoking K2 in his cell and he wasn’t in the right frame of mind.” K2 is a hallucinogenic drug that can lead to suicidal tendencies and violent behavior. At the time of his death, Hernandez had just been acquitted of a double murder in Boston’s South End, and was reportedly hopeful that he would be similarly acquitted of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd. “What do you do when you get good news?” one inmate said, adding, “You celebrate, right?”
State investigators deny they were trying to hide evidence of Hernandez’s drug use, noting part of the interview was redacted because it was related to an investigation of drug abuse in prisons. They added that Hernandez’s toxicology screening came back negative for synthetic drugs—although an expert cited by the Globe said those tests aren’t always conclusive. A lawyer for Hernandez’s family, however, wasn’t convinced. “Any disturbing commentary about the state’s investigation was clearly hidden from the public, Aaron’s lawyers, and his family,’’ he told the Globe.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).