Late football player Aaron Hernandez shared a daughter named Avielle Janelle Hernandez with fiancé Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez before his sudden death in 2017.
Football fans across the globe have probably heard of Aaron Hernandez’s name in one way or another. At such a young age, he already showed great potential in sports, with him even earning the All-American honors at the University of Florida after he graduated college. He has also secured a place in the NFL, with a promising career ahead of him.
However, Hernandez found himself at a dead end when he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for killing his fellow football player, Odin Lloyd, in 2013.
Hernandez was able to stay with Avielle for two years. However, in 2015, the little girl was left with no father by her side, as Hernandez ultimately got sentenced to a lifetime in prison without parole.
Life behind bars really struck Hernandez to the core. That’s why, two years after he was charged with Lloyd’s death, he was found dead in his prison cell after he took his own life. That said, one thing is for sure: even if he had his demons, Hernandez was still greatly affectionate and devoted to caring for his daughter, as stated by his former teammates in 2018.
With all those things said, let’s look at how her daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez is doing years after her father’s death. Scroll down if you want to know more!
Who Is Avielle Janelle Hernandez?
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Born in 2012, Avielle Janelle Hernandez is the daughter of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez, who died of suicide in his own prison cell. It was known that her father was arrested when she was only seven months old.
As a result, her mother, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, decided to keep things private regarding Avielle, considering she was only a child when all these issues happened. That is why little is known of Avielle, as her mother wants to keep some things for her daughter’s safety.
She Has the Same Birthday as Her Father
While there’s little information on Avielle, many know she shares the same birthday as her late father. During her birthday on November 6, 2012, Hernandez was also celebrating his 23rd birthday.
According to a report, Hernandez stated that the arrival of Avielle was the best birthday gift he has ever had in his whole life. He even finds it crazy that his daughter now has the same birthday as he is, making the already special day more special.
During a press conference, he also stated that it was such an honor to have a daughter like Avielle that he couldn’t ask for more in his life anymore. He also promised to make himself better for the sake of his daughter.
Even others noticed that many things had changed for Hernandez since his daughter arrived. Even Hernandez himself went on to proudly state that his daughter Avielle was the only one who was able to change his life for the better.
She Only Spent Two Years with Her Father
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When Avielle was only seven months old, Hernandez was unexpectedly arrested by the officials for the death of his fellow football player, Odin Lloyd. During that time, things were already rocky for the family, as Hernandez had a high chance of going to prison anytime soon.
As a result, the late star went on to do his best and spend most of his time with his daughter. Two years after he was sentenced, many trials have been held in the court, with Hernandez hoping that he will still be able to go home to his family.
However, things went south, and Hernandez ultimately was sentenced to a lifetime in prison, causing Avielle to grow up without a father on her side. According to reports, Hernandez killed Lloyd due to a heated argument the two were involved in. It turns out that Lloyd was also dating Hernandez’s sister, so many speculate that they may have had an argument that turned bloody in the end.
She Has a Trust Fund
Before Hernandez’s life tragedy happened, he made it a goal to look at things differently in a good way for the sake of his daughter.
Although he might have been a little wild and free then, he genuinely wants to do things the right way since he knows that his daughter will start looking up to him in the future.
He made it a mission not to be reckless and start being more responsible for his actions. With that said, it seems like Hernandez did live up to that goal despite his sudden death in 2017.
As of 2023, some reports stated that he has left some trust funds for his daughter to use as she grows up. Even though he is not present anymore, Hernandez still sticks to his promise to be responsible and be a good father to his only daughter.
She Attended Her Father’s Trial in 2017
Things even went rockier for the family when Hernandez was charged with double murder due to an accusation of him killing both Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a Boston Nightclub in 2012.
Although he went on trial for the case, the stress and agonizing pain that he was feeling inside the jail was so much already that he ultimately decided to end things himself. Before he committed suicide, Hernandez made sure to leave three suicide notes for his family, especially Avielle.
In the said note, he explained to his daughter that he is just entering a timeless realm in which he can enter into “any form,” assuring Avielle that he will be all right in the end. He also asks his daughter to love, repent, and see him in the heavens as he will forever wait for Avielle there.
She Is Already a Big Sister
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One year after Hernandez died, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez gave birth to her second child, making Avielle a big sister. Reports say that Giselle, Avielle’s little sister, is not Hernandez’s second daughter. That’s because sources point out that Hernandez didn’t freeze any of his sperm before he entered prison.
Despite their five-year age gap, the sisters have kept a close bond with each other, as seen in the pictures that Shayanna has been sharing on her social media accounts.
She Is a Dancer in The Making
Just like her father, it seems like Avielle is also a sports fan, as she has kept herself busy entering dance competitions since she was six years old. Since then, Avielle has been enhancing her skills in dancing to become one of the best-known dancers in the future.
One of her most notable accomplishments at such a young age is when she played the mouse in the Nutcracker ballet, earning her a five-year award in 2020. Since then, she has continually earned her solo acts on stage, making everyone believe that Avielle Janelle Hernandez is definitely going to be the next thing.