The intrigue surrounding the recent death of Aaron Hernandez deepens. Hernandez was found hanging in his cell, an apparent suicide, days after he was found not guilty of murder after a lengthy trial. But now a new legal battle is looming, with the Worcester Medical Examiner holding on to Hernandez’s brain, despite his family allegedly promising it to Boston University for research.
Hernandez’ attorney, Jose Baez, told reporters on Thursday that the Medical Examiner is “holding Aaron Hernandez’s brain illegally,” and that he is prepared to take legal action against them and individuals responsible. He said that Hernandez’ family arranged for BU to get the brain from the Medical Examiner on Wednesday morning, but then the ME’s office decided to keep the brain, while giving the family the rest of Hernandez’ body.
Since Baez’s press conference, the ME’s office said they will turn over Hernandez’s brain, but no timetable has been set. In a statement, the Secretary of Public Safety and Security said, “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of Aaron Hernandez’s death, which may require further analysis of his body,” and that afterwards, “the brain will be released to Boston University.”
The research is related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition recently associated with football players. Hernandez played in the NFL from 2010 to 2012. The attorney stopped short of saying that Hernandez killed himself due to CTE. Indeed, he has repeatedly said that his death was not a suicide at all.
[Image via FOX25]
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