In retrospect, it surprised few when it was revealed this week that the late Aaron Hernandez was found to have evidence of severe deterioration of the brain matter necessary for higher executive functioning.
Even before the former tight end for the New England Patriots was convicted in 2015 for the murder of his friend, it was clear that Hernandez was a deeply troubled and angry young man. Learning now that Hernandez — who died by his own hand in April while serving a life sentence for murder after acquittal on other double murder charges — had the brain of a 67-year-old man with catastrophic brain damage sheds new light on the matter.
According to the professional opinions of the researchers at Boston University’s CTE Center, Hernandez had a diagnosis of stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Slides of cross-sections of the decedent’s brain showed substantial deposits of the tangles of tau protein clogging up the frontal lobe of his brain.
One report states that physicians said that Hernandez had “the most severe case they had ever seen in someone of Aaron’s age.”
This case could be a game-changer for the National Football League (NFL), as Hernandez’s attorney announced at this week’s press conference that on behalf of Hernandez’s young daughter, he is filing a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit.He named both the NFL and the New England Patriots as defendants from whom he is seeking unspecified damages, citing the child’s loss of paternal support.
Those in Southern California who have suffered similar injuries or damages due to another person’s or entity’s negligence may also decide to take legal action against the at-fault parties.
Source: Yahoo Sports, “That Aaron Hernandez had CTE is devastating news for the NFL,” Dan Wetzel, Sep. 21, 2017
