FALL RIVER, Mass. – Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez told his fiancee’s family members that his endorsements were gone the day after Odin Lloyd was killed, according to testimony Wednesday from her uncle.
Azia Jenkins was called to the stand in Hernandez’s murder trial by prosecutor William McCauley, who asked him what happened June 18, 2013.
Additional Images
Lloyd’s body had been found the day before in an industrial park not far from Hernandez’s home in North Attleboro. Lloyd had been dating Shaneah Jenkins, the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee, Shayanna.
Azia Jenkins testified that Shayanna had called him that morning asking him to come from Connecticut to pick up another uncle, Donnie Smith. Smith and Shaneah Jenkins had gone to Hernandez’s home that morning after Shaneah had been told by police that Lloyd was dead.
Azia Jenkins said he had arrived at the Hernandez home that afternoon and was preparing to leave when police arrived and spoke with him in the driveway. He said he went to the police station, then returned to the Hernandez home.
Upon his return, he said, Hernandez wanted to know what police had asked him.
After a brief conversation, Jenkins, Hernandez and Smith went to the basement to play pool and watch Game 6 of the NBA Finals. A commercial came on, Jenkins said.
“Aaron said, ‘My endorsements are gone,’ ” Azia Jenkins testified.
Jenkins said that Hernandez didn’t elaborate and that he appeared “cool, calm, collected.”
At the time of the slaying, Hernandez had a $40 million contract with the Patriots.
In earlier testimony Wednesday, a police detective described how officers found a shell casing and blue bubble gum that they used to link Hernandez to the killing.
North Attleborough police Detective Michael Elliott said police were called by a rental car company worker, who told them several items had been removed from a car Hernandez rented and the items were put in a trash bin.
Elliott said police searched the bin and found the shell casing attached to the gum.
Hernandez lawyer James Sultan questioned the way police handled the items.
Prosecutors have said Hernandez bought blue bubble gum shortly before the killing.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.