11/04/24
June 20, 2013
Aaron Hernandez's home searched in possible homicide probe: State and local police spent hours at the $1.3 million home of NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots on Tuesday night as another group of officers searched an industrial park about a mile away where a body was discovered the day before.
I wouldn't know about that part of the state. You're talking about an area that's south of Marlboro, Northboro and Westboro.
Oh, it's southwest of Foxboro too.
Vanna, can I buy an "ugh"?
Wait - is there really a "paw" in P'tuckit?
(I once knew a man down there who had a pig...)
posted by beaverboard at 11:44 AM on June 20, 2013
I feel your pain, and am probably as guilty as anyone of those mistakes. Luckily, I only have to hear East Coast sportscasters talk about "Nev-ahh-duh" once or twice a year, as it makes my skin crawl. It's "Nev-a-da" with an "a" like "plasma" (the first one).
Oh, and also, a player on a team I don't like is accused of something, kinda. BURN HIM!!!
posted by tahoemoj at 11:57 AM on June 20, 2013
Ray Lewis should refer Hernandez to his lawyer.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:01 PM on June 20, 2013
My grandfather was from there and for some reason in high school I claimed my basketball skills were birthed among "the mystic hoops of North Attleboro", so that's the first (and usually only) thing that comes to mind when the town is mentioned. The fact there's a house "worth" $1.3 million right off of 495 . . . the mind reels.
posted by yerfatma at 12:01 PM on June 20, 2013
If Aaron Hernandez played no role in this man's murder, his representatives are doing him no favors by refusing to comment on the subject. The decision not to get him out front of this, and explain his association to the dead man and the rental car, makes me think this won't be ending well for him.
posted by rcade at 12:43 PM on June 20, 2013
If Aaron Hernandez played no role in this man's murder, his representatives are doing him no favors by refusing to comment on the subject.
I thought the general rule about criminal matters that land on your doorstep (guilty or not) is to shut up and say nothing publically. The last thing you want to have happen is a misspoken word or forgotten moment and suddenly you have problems.
And whatever you do, don't slap your lawyer's ass.
posted by grum@work at 01:12 PM on June 20, 2013
If his involvement in this situation is innocent, he has nothing to lose with a statement asserting this fact and explaining his role. It would be a risk for him to give a press conference, but not a carefully vetted statement giving the public an explanation.
Chad Johnson losing his plea deal with the butt pat is an amazing piece of video. What a dope.
posted by rcade at 01:21 PM on June 20, 2013
Is tonight's basketball game going to be interrupted by a slow speed white Audi chase?
posted by tommybiden at 02:06 PM on June 20, 2013
Two nice takes on that theme from Deadspin commenters: #1 and #2
posted by yerfatma at 02:59 PM on June 20, 2013
Is tonight's basketball game going to be interrupted by a slow speed white Audi chase?
That would depend if Tom Brady is driving the Audi while wearing Uggs and letting his magnificent mane flow in the wind.
Now that's great television!
posted by BornIcon at 03:13 PM on June 20, 2013
I thoroughly enjoy reading the commentary in the press from uninformed or poorly informed reporters. Some in the media will say or write anything in order to get a byline. True enough there is a lawsuit against Hernandez in Florida, but he was never prosecuted for shooting the victim. The reason given was a lack of cooperation on the part of the victim. Now the victim is suing, had to retract the suit due to "errors", and is now claiming that it will be reinstated. Sounds like the victim might have figured prosecution of Hernandez would have killed of a potential goose before a lawsuit could begin harvesting a golden egg. Then again, I tend to see the worst in many people.
The stories report a connection between Hernandez and the homicide victim. Supposedly they were in a bar together the night before the murder. The victim was driving a rented vehicle that was rented to Hernandez (one of 3 supposedly rented to him). There is an obvious connection, but is it strong enough to support being a suspect in a murder? Had the police a strong enough suspicion of Hernandez involvement, they would have requested some restriction of his travel. Of course, Hernandez being a rather public figure, he would find it rather difficult to find a hideout.
Hernandez is being quite smart in refusing comment. Involved or not, should he say the wrong thing, he could easily inadvertently interfere with the investigation and wind up in legal trouble. What's worse is to make statements that somehow hint incorrectly of an involvement, at which point an overzealous prosecutor sees the opportunity to make a name for himself. There has been more than one Massachusetts political career built on such a thing.
I would rather believe that Hernandez is more caught up in circumstance than deeply involved in a crime. I will wait until more facts are available before forming an opinion. In the meantime, I will buy a white SUV and attempt to become famous.
posted by Howard_T at 06:03 PM on June 20, 2013
Involved or not, should he say the wrong thing, he could easily inadvertently interfere with the investigation and wind up in legal trouble.
If he's not involved, or only involved by some innocent situation, how could issuing a statement explaining this get him into legal trouble?
posted by rcade at 06:22 PM on June 20, 2013
how could issuing a statement explaining this get him into legal trouble?
Of course, the flip side of that is the question of how speaking up, even to unequivocally claim innocence, could possibly help Hernandez. I mean, OJ loudly proclaimed his innocence. I imagine Rea Carruth did, as well (too lazy to look back). It won't exonerate him in the eyes of the law, and as far as the public goes, well. You know. Some people like Howard will wait until more facts come out before they judge him. Others, like some other asshat upthread from here will scream about burning him no matter what he says.
posted by tahoemoj at 07:10 PM on June 20, 2013
I see what you did there. Nice!
Proclaiming your innocence when you are innocent helps your reputation. It gives the people who believe in your innocence something to hang their hat on.
Saying nothing when you are innocent makes you look guilty.
Assume for the sake of argument that all Hernandez is guilty of is loaning someone a car, and that he had no way of knowing this would factor into a homicide.
Having his PR and legal team say that the second the story broke would have injected it into all media coverage. I think it might have prevented him getting the O.J. White Bronco treatment.
posted by rcade at 08:04 PM on June 20, 2013
I would rather believe that Hernandez is more caught up in circumstance than deeply involved in a crime
Lots of circumstance, apparently.
It just happens he destroyed his cell phone, obliterated all information from his home security system, and contracted a cleaner to do a complete wash of his home the day the acquaintance was found dead 1 mile from his house.
posted by cixelsyd at 08:49 PM on June 20, 2013
Jeez. I think we can stop discussing hypotheticals premised on his innocence of any wrongdoing.
posted by rcade at 09:32 PM on June 20, 2013
sources, confirmed that the security system - which included video surveillance - was smashed intentionally.
Does anyone know Goodell's whereabouts at the time?
posted by Mr Bismarck at 08:46 AM on June 21, 2013
Dude has some real problems.
Dude has some real real problems.
posted by NerfballPro at 08:52 AM on June 21, 2013
Not sure where all this is going to head, but I keep thinking: if Myra Kraft were alive and well, how long would she be willing to let this go on without having something to say about it?
Edit: didn't see Nerf's post - it may already be moving beyond the realm of Kraft family standards of conduct.
posted by beaverboard at 08:53 AM on June 21, 2013
The reports today (Friday AM) say that an arrest warrant has been issued for Hernandez on a charge of obstruction of justice. This is a convenient way of keeping Hernandez handy without having to charge him with the more serious crime. Obstruction of justice is also applied if you do something trivial to avoid a traffic ticket, for example, so if Hernandez is clean, there's no real harm done to him. In the meantime, there are reports that the hard drive from Hernandez's home security system had been heavily damaged. There are also reports about the same happening to his mobile 'phone, but to date those are unconfirmed. Hernandez's presence in a Boston night club with the murder victim has been confirmed by club staff, but they also say there was no trouble at the table.
In the words of that eminent legal eagle, Desi Arnaz: "Lucy, you've got some 'splainin' to do."
posted by Howard_T at 12:16 PM on June 21, 2013
I think the obstruction of justice charge is more than a convenient way of keeping him around. Evidently Hernandez' home security system was intentionally destroyed recently, and his cellphone was smashed/mangled. The house cleaners hired on Monday to clean his mansion could be explained away as their usual routine, I suppose, but the other stuff is pretty incriminating unless his next move is to claim someone's trying to set him up.
posted by evixir at 11:41 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by yerfatma at 02:22 PM on June 22, 2013
Can you really be charged with "obstruction of justice" if you do something before the police have ever contacted you?
posted by grum@work at 03:51 PM on June 22, 2013
Can you really be charged with "obstruction of justice" if you do something before the police have ever contacted you?
Yes. Obstruction of justice is when one knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation.
posted by BornIcon at 09:40 AM on June 24, 2013
The main fallout so far is millions of locals seeing the story and wondering where "North Attleborough" is. Apparently that's technically the name, but c'mon; it's "North Attleboro". It's the same annoyance I get when sportscaster refer to "PAW-tucket" as though that were really a town in Roe Dyelin.