ABC News(BOSTON) — Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez spent nearly four years in police custody in Massachusetts before he was found dead in his prison cell early Wednesday morning. He was 27 years old.

Here is what we know about the years that the ex-NFL star spent in custody, both in a Massachusetts county jail and a maximum-security prison.

Hernandez was taken into police custody on June 26, 2013, on charges related to the death of his friend, Odin Lloyd. He was released by the Patriots just hours after he was arrested.

For more than 18 months, Hernandez was held in the Bristol County House of Corrections. He was convicted of Lloyd’s murder on April 15, 2015.

After he was convicted of first-degree murder, Hernandez was moved to a single-inmate cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Shirley, about an hour’s drive from Boston.

Just one month into his life sentence, Hernandez got into a “two-on-one fight” that sent him into a segregation unit at the prison, law enforcement officials told ABC News at the time. Hernandez was “part of the two,” a prison official said. Another source said that the other inmate was beaten in his cell and that the fight appeared to be “gang related.”

Hernandez had reportedly gotten a new tattoo that referenced the Blood street gang after the fight, prison officials said. In August of 2015, Hernandez was involved in another fight at the prison, ABC News Boston affiliate WCVB reported at the time. There were no injuries in that fight.

Hernandez’s cell, where he was found hanging from a bedsheet attached to his cell window on Wednesday, was part of general population housing, the Massachusetts Department of Correction said in a statement.

He was found with the words John 3:16 written on his forehead, law enforcement sources told ABC News. It is a reference to a Bible verse that reads: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The prison has 366 cameras recording 24 hours a day, according to its website. It offers a full range of “educational, vocational and substance abuse programming,” the website states.

In prison, Hernandez missed out on two trips to the Super Bowl

The Patriots made two Super Bowl appearances without its star tight end after Hernandez was taken into custody in 2013. But, it appears that Hernandez was not even permitted to watch his former team play.

On Feb. 1, 2015, the Patriots appeared in the Super Bowl, beating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The day before the game, Hodgson told ABC News that Hernandez was not allowed to watch television, have a radio or even read newspapers, and therefore would miss the big game.

Hernandez’s lawyers had complained about those conditions and filed a motion for Hernandez to be moved to a Boston jail, saying he was “subjected to unreasonable restrictions” imposed by the Bristol County Sheriff.

In this year’s Super Bowl on Feb. 5, the Patriots made a spectacular comeback in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium in Houston, overcoming a 28-3 deficit in the second half. It is unclear if Hernandez was able to watch the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl win at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center.

Hernandez would have likely participated in both championship games, as they would have fallen under the five-year contract he signed with the Patriots in 2012.

While Hernandez helped lead the Patriots to the 2012 Super Bowl, he never received the coveted championship ring. The Patriots lost to the New York Giants 21-17 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Center Township, Indiana that year.

Despite the loss, Hernandez found some glory that day by catching Tom Brady’s last touchdown pass of the game.

Hernandez spent less than a year helping raise his only child, Avielle Janelle Hernandez, before he was taken into police custody in June 2013.

His daughter was born in 2012. Hernandez had just signed the $40 million contract with the Patriots in August 2012 after a strong performance that season.

That same month, Hernandez also got engaged to his girlfriend of five years, Shayanna Jenkins.

Jenkins appeared in court with the couple’s daughter when Hernandez was acquitted of the double murder last week.

Hernandez and his older brother, Jonathan Hernandez, would exchange mail regularly while he was in prison, Sports Illustrated reported last year.

On one of Jonathan Hernandez’s visits to the prison, his younger brother walked in wearing a two-piece gray prison suit with a white T-shirt underneath. The two were able to laugh together in that visit, the magazine reported.

In February, the trial began for the 2012 double murders of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado, who were shot and killed outside of a Massachusetts bar.

Some of Hernandez’s final days played out in public when he was found not guilty of first-degree murder on Friday. He was also found not guilty of armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation, but he was convicted of unlawful possession of a gun. A judge added four to five years to Hernandez’s prison sentence for that charge, separate from his existing life sentence.

After the verdict was read, Hernandez hugged his attorneys and supporters before he was led away from the courtroom.

Hernandez was already serving a life sentence when he was acquitted. Days later, he was found dead in his prison cell. Prison officials said he committed suicide.

There were no prior concerns that Hernandez was suicidal, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Correction told ABC News. If there had been concerns, Hernandez would have been on mental health watch in a different part of the prison, the spokesperson said.

It is unknown at this time whether Hernandez left a suicide note, according to the spokesperson. His family and legal team were “shocked and surprised” to learn of Aaron’s death, his lead attorney, Jose Baez, said in a statement.

Hernandez was “looking forward to an opportunity for a second chance to prove his innocence” and overturn his murder conviction in an appeal, Baez said.

The Massachusetts State Police and Worcester County District Attorney’s Office have launched an investigation into Hernandez’s death. Police and prosecutors will look at Hernandez’s recent time in prison, including prior fights and any gang-related disputes that might have occurred.

His legal team will also be conducting its own investigation, Baez said.

Hernandez’s body is currently in the custody of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. An autopsy will be performed in Boston.</s>Questions remain after former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell by a corrections officer early Wednesday morning.

Hernandez was serving a life sentence for murder and just last week was acquitted in two other killings before he hanged himself with a bed sheet attached to his cell window at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts, at approximately 3:05 a.m. He was 27.

He was pronounced dead about an hour later at UMass-Memorial Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Correction. He had attempted to block the door from the inside by jamming it with various items, prison officials said. He was in a single cell in a general population unit in the maximum-security state prison.

His death is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the Department of Correction. An autopsy will be performed by the medical examiner's office in Boston to determine his cause and manner of death, according to the Worcester District Attorney's Office.

Jose Baez, Hernandez's lead attorney in his recent double murder trial, is calling for an investigation into his client's death. He issued a statement Wednesday saying that Hernandez's family and legal team are "shocked and surprised" at the news of his death.

Baez said there were no conversations or correspondence to his family or legal team that would have indicated that anything like this was possible.

John M. Thompson, the attorney handling Hernandez's appeal in the 2013 murder case, also said Hernandez's death should be "carefully and thoroughly investigated."

Also calling for an investigation into Hernandez's death is State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, whose district includes Shirley, home of the prison where Hernandez was incarcerated. He said he wants to know how often Hernandez was checked on and whether foul play could have been involved.

Prison officials said they are not aware of any suicide note written by Hernandez and they had no concern that Hernandez might take his own life.

Hernandez's former agent, Brian Murphy, tweeted on Wednesday morning that there was "absolutely no chance" that he took his own life. He said Hernandez "was not a saint, but my family and I loved him and he would never take his own life."

Last week, Hernandez was acquitted of all but a gun charge in a lengthy trial in the 2012 shooting deaths of Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu. But he was already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his conviction in the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating his fiancee's sister.</s>Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots star who was convicted of murder in 2015, killed himself in his prison cell Wednesday morning, officials said.

Hernandez, 27, was found hanging in his cell by corrections officers around 3:05 a.m. at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center, Massachusetts Department of Correction officials said in a statement.

He was pronounced dead an hour later.

Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit and hanged himself with a bed sheet attached to his cell window. He also tried blocking his door from the inside with various items, officials said.

An investigation was ongoing.

Hernandez was not on a suicide watch and authorities had yet to find any suicide note in his cell, The Boston Globe reported. Officials said Hernandez had given no indication he might try to take his own life.

“If he had made any kind of statement, he would have not been in that unit,’’ Department of Correction spokesperson Christopher Fallon said.

The death of the once-promising NFL tight end came almost two years to the day when he was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. The 15th selection in the 2010 NFL draft, Hernandez was arrested in August 2013 in connection with Lloyd's June 2013 death.

On April 14, Hernandez was found not guilty in a double homicide separate from the Lloyd case; however, he was already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in connection with Lloyd's murder.

The disgraced NFL star played three seasons with the Patriots, scoring 18 touchdowns and forming a fierce tight end tandem with Rob Gronkowski. He had two touchdowns in six playoff games, including eight catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' Super Bowl XLVI loss to the Giants.

But his seemingly ascendant career came crashing down when police began investigating Lloyd's murder and eventually came to finger Hernandez as the trigger man. The Patriots quickly cut Hernandez from the team prior to the 2013 season.

The Patriots had yet to comment on the death of Hernandez, but the team was set to be at the White House on Wednesday in honor of their Super Bowl LI victory.

Patriots spokesman Stacey James told The Boston Globe: "We are aware of the reports but I don't anticipate that we will be commenting today."</s>BOSTON (AP) — Key dates in the case of Aaron Hernandez:

— June 8, 2010: Hernandez, a standout tight end drafted from the University of Florida, signs a four-year contract with the New England Patriots.

— Jan. 1, 2012: He sets a career best with 138 receiving yards in a win over Buffalo.

— July 16, 2012: Two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, are shot to death in their car as they wait at a red light in Boston’s South End neighborhood.

— February 2013: An associate, Alexander Bradley, is shot in the face in Florida. Bradley files a lawsuit alleging that Hernandez shot him after they argued at a strip club.

— June 17, 2013: The body of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee, is found about a mile from Hernandez’s mansion in North Attleborough, Massachusetts.

— June 26, 2013: Hernandez is arrested on a murder charge in Lloyd’s slaying and taken from his home in handcuffs. He later pleads not guilty. The Patriots release him hours after his arrest.

— May 15, 2014: Hernandez is indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the shootings of de Abreu and Furtado. His lawyers say he is innocent.

— May 28, 2014: Hernandez pleads not guilty to charges in connection with the deaths of de Abreu and Furtado. A prosecutor says Hernandez was angry because de Abreu accidentally bumped into him at a nightclub while dancing, spilling his drink.

— Jan. 9, 2015: Hernandez goes on trial for murder in Lloyd’s killing.

— April 7, 2015: Prosecutors and Hernandez’s lawyers present their closing statements and the case goes to the jury.

— April 15, 2015: Hernandez is convicted of first-degree murder; carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

— Feb. 14, 2017: Hernandez goes on trial for murder in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

— April 14, 2017: Hernandez acquitted of murder in the 2012 killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

— April 19, 2017: Hernandez found hanging by a bed sheet in his prison cell, dies at hospital.</s>FORMER New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was serving a life sentence for a 2013 murder, killed himself in prison early Wednesday, according to a report.

He was discovered hanged in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts, about 3:05am. Wednesday (US time), according to officials.

“Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population unit,” a statement from the Department of Correction reads, the Boston Globe reported. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.”

Lifesaving measures were attempted on Hernandez, who was taken to UMass Leominster, where he was pronounced dead an hour later, corrections officials said.

The 27-year-old ex-player was acquitted Friday in a 2012 double slaying prosecutors said was sparked by his anger over a spilt drink.

He was already serving a life sentence for a 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player who was dating the sister of his fiancee.

Hernandez grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, and played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2012.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

This article was originally published on the New York Post.</s>Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez was discovered hanged in his cell by a corrections officer Tuesday night.

He was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m.

More to come.</s>Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found hanged in his prison cell early Wednesday.

"Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window," Christopher M. Fallon of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections said in a statement obtained by NPR member station WBUR. "Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items."

Hernandez was found by corrections officers in his single cell in general population at about 3:05 a.m., Fallon said. After the officers attempted lifesaving techniques, he was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m.

Hernandez was serving a life sentence without parole at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass., for killing Odin Lloyd, the boyfriend of his fiancee's sister, in 2013. A jury unanimously convicted him of first-degree murder in 2015, as The Two-Way reported.

Last Friday, Hernandez was acquitted of separate murder charges over the 2012 killing of two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, outside a Boston nightclub. But the jury found him guilty of illegal weapons possession and sentenced him to four to five years in prison.

He died the same day that President Trump is hosting the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at an event at the White House.

"Team spokesman Stacey James said the Patriots were aware of the reports of Aaron's death but didn't anticipate the club commenting Wednesday," according to The Associated Press.</s>Aaron Hernandez committed suicide in his cell at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in the early hours of April 19, officials confirm. The former football player was serving life in prison for first-degree murder.

Just days after he was cleared in a double-homicide case, Aaron Hernandez killed himself in prison on April 19, the Department of Corrections confirms to The Boston Globe. The 27-year-old was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a different crime committed in 2013.

“Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in the general population unit,” the Department of Corrections said in a statement. “Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.” Aaron, who played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, was transferred to UMass Leominster Hospital, and pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m., approximately one hour after he hung himself.

“The Massachusetts State Polie are on scene and the investigation continues,” officials added. “Mr. Hernandez’s next of kin have been notified.”

Aaron was serving a life sentence for killing Odin Lloyd, his fiancee’s sister, in 2013. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015 for the crime. Just five days before his suicide, Aaron was acquitted in a second murder case, in which he was accused killing two men, Daniel de Abreu, 29, and Safiro Furtado, 28, in 2012. After six days and more than 40 hours of deliberating, the jury found Aaron not guilty of this crime, save for one charge of being in unlawful possession of a firearm. Aaron broke down in tears in the courtroom when the verdict was read on April 14.

HollywoodLifers, leave your thoughts for Aaron’s family and loved ones in the comments section below.</s>Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found hanged by a bed sheet in his jail cell early Wednesday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

Hernandez, 27, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to the statement released to the Boston media.

He was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.

Last Friday, Hernandez was found not guilty for the double murder of two men on a Boston street in 2012.

Hernandez, who grew up in Bristol, Conn, played with the Patriots from 2010-2012.</s>Massachusetts (AP) — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction and just days ago was acquitted of a double murder, died after hanging himself in his prison cell Wednesday morning, Massachusetts prisons officials said.

Hernandez, 27, was found by guards in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley just after 3 a.m., Department of Correction spokesman Christopher Fallon said in a statement.

The former New England Patriots tight end was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial-HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster about an hour later.

Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit in the maximum security state prison. He hanged himself using a bed sheet that he attached to a cell window, Fallon said.

Hernandez tried to block the cell door from the inside by jamming the door with various items, Fallon said.

Hernandez was moved to tears on Friday after he was acquitted of the 2012 fatal shootings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston. Just before his acquittal, Hernandez was seen blowing kisses to the little girl he fathered with fiancée Shayanna Jenkins. Cameras captured the tender exchange.

But, Hernandez was still serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his conviction in the 2013 shooting of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancee’s sister.

Hernandez’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hernandez’s death comes the same day the Patriots are making their visit to the White House today to mark their Super Bowl win. Team spokesman Stacey James said the Patriots were aware of the reports of Hernandez’s death but didn’t anticipate the club commenting Wednesday.

Massachusetts State Police remain on the scene investigating the deat

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Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, acquitted last week of a 2012 double murder but serving a life sentence for a 2013 murder, is found hanged in his prison cell, and is pronounced dead an hour later.