The unexpected passing of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez left his loved ones completely devastated. Authorities have confirmed on Wednesday that Hernandez hanged himself in prison, leaving behind his fiancé Shayanna Jenkins and their four-year old daughter Avielle. Here are four facts about the New England Patriots star's family.
1. Shayanna and Aaron were childhood sweethearts
Shayanna and her younger sister, Shaneah, had known the Hernandez family since they were in elementary. Their families lived near each other in Bristol, Connecticut. The flirtations between Jenkins and Hernandez began in middle school, and as they continued their on-and-off romance as the latter's profile began to rise in both football and basketball.
2. They were never married
In 2012, Shayanna and Aaron were already living together in a dream $1.5million mansion when they discovered they would become parents. The late footballer proposed in November 2012 after Shayanna gave birth to their child, and planned to marry in 2014. Even though the pair never tied the knot, Shayanna legally took Aaron's last name in 2015.
3. Shayanna's loyalty to Aaron created a huge family conflict
Shayanna supported her fiancé throughout his murder trials. Aaron was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing Odin L. Lloyd, who was dating Shayanna's sister at the time. Since the trials began, Shayanna's close relationship with Shaneah turned sour.
4. Aaron and Shayanna had a troubled marriage
As Aaron earned millions in the NFL, he had a lifestyle that involved drugs and relationships with other women. He even maintained a separate apartment prior to his conviction. During Shayanna's testimony for Aaron's murder trial, she revealed that she made huge sacrifices when they were still together.
"I made a decision that if I was going to move back in with Aaron, I was going to have to kind of compromise on his behavior and that included infidelity and everything that came along with it," the widower said of her husband's cheating.
