One day removed from being charged with first-degree murder and five additional weapons counts due to his connection in the shooting death of semiprofessional football player Odin Lloyd, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez will return to court for a bail review hearing. According to ESPN, the 23-year-old will attend a session in a Fall River court Thursday afternoon.
A nine day investigation began on Monday, June 17th after the body of the 27-year-old Lloyd was found dead in a Massachusetts park. Authorities indicated that Lloyd - who was said to have been dating the aunt of Hernandez's daughter - was shot execution-style in the back of the head and since area surveillance cameras showed Hernandez with Lloyd and 2 others hours before his death, police had reason to focus a majority of their investigation around the former football star.
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After searching a nearby pond close to where Hernandez lives, police also felt it necessary to spend over 3 hours inspecting the inside of the former University of Florida's North Attleborough, Massachusetts mansion. Local and state police were also highly interested in finding out why Aaron Hernandez hired a team to clean his mansion shortly after the death of Lloyd was announced. Discovering that Hernandez destroyed his cell phone and home security cameras as well, an arrest warrant was prepared for Hernandez for obstruction of justice since officials requested the cell phone and cameras as evidence before they were damaged.
Taken to a nearby Massachusetts court following his Wednesday morning arrest, Hernandez was charged with murder and five gun-related charges. He pled not guilty and a judge ordered he be held without bail. In addition to his arrest, Hernandez was released by the New England Patriots after being a key contributor for 3 seasons. First Assistant District Attorney William McCauley said at the Attleboro District Court on Wednesday, June 26th that Hernandez knew what he was doing as he orchestrated the murder of Odin Lloyd and then attempted to conceal the wrongdoings.
"Hernandez drove the victim to the remote spot, and he then orchestrated his execution," McCauley said. "That's what it was. As Mr. Lloyd tried to turn, he was shot in the back, and the defendant and his confederates stood over him and delivered the two fatal shots. He orchestrated the crime from the beginning and took steps to conceal and destroy evidence."
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Along with arresting Hernandez, Connecticut police have arrested another man in connection to the shooting death of Odin Lloyd. Carlos Ortiz, a 27-year-old who lives in Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Connecticut, was taken into custody as prosecutors and the Bristol Police Department continue to assist Massachusetts police officials during the ongoing investigation.
Shortly after the arrest, New Britain, Connecticut State Attorney Brian Preleski issued a statement noting that continued support from the Connecticut police will be there as long as the investigation continues. Preleski also indicated that Ortiz did agree to return to Massachusetts.
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Since last week, the Bristol Police Department and the New Britain State's Attorney's office have, at the request of authorities in Massachusetts, been assisting in their investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the homicide of Odin Lloyd.
At this point, one individual, Carlos Ortiz of Bristol, has been charged in Connecticut as a Fugitive from Justice. On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, Mr. Ortiz appeared in Superior Court, G.A. No. 17, in Bristol and waived extradition to Massachusetts.
The bail hearing for Hernandez is expected to begin sometime around 2pm, EST on Thursday, June 27th.
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