Aaron Hernandez Update: He Smoked PCP, Hung With 'Stone-Cold Gangsters,' Says Rolling Stone Reporter
Report Accuses Florida Coach of 'Covering Up Failed Drug Tests' and 'Violent Incidents' for Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez was allegedly using hardcore drugs and had long since cut ties to family and teammates in exchange for gang members prior to his arrest for the murder of Odin Lloyd, Rolling Stone reporter Paul Solotaroff claims.
The detailed report, titled "Gansgter in the Huddle" claims that Hernandez's life prior to his arrest for murder was far from just a New England Patriots tight end drafted in 2012. His contract with the team was extended for five years last August, but over the last year, Solotaroff alleged that Hernandez's personality drastically changed.
After conducting detailed interviews, Solotaroff said that Hernandez had become increasingly paranoid over the past year and was actively using the hardcore drug phencyclidine, which is often shortened to PCP or called "angel dust." The drug is known for its hallucinogenic effects and paranoia, which allegedly caused Hernandez to surround himself with gang members and cut off friends, family and teammates.
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"Instead of teammates, Hernandez built a cohort of thugs, bringing stone-cold gangsters over to the house to play pool, smoke chronic and carouse," Solotaroff wrote.
Solotaroff's report also alleged that Hernandez had "missed so many practices" and committed so many "thug life stunts" that he was already on the verge of being cut from the team prior to the search of the player's home. However, team owner Robert Kraft claimed he had no knowledge of Hernandez's criminal past, describing the player as a "most likeable young man" during a Sports Illustrated interview.
Referring to Hernandez's poor behavior as a secret that the player kept well, Kraft said "if this stuff is true, then I've been duped and our whole organization has been duped."
"I never saw him with them," John Hevesy, Hernandez's position coach while he was on the Florida Gators, said of the alleged gang member buddies, "but misery attracts misery: There's vultures waiting to swoop."
Solotaroff also accused former University of Florida Coach Urban Meyer of "[helping to] cover up failed drug tests, along with two violent incidents -- an assault and a drive-by shootout outside a local bar" while Hernandez was on the team.
Hernandez was formerly indicted with charges on Aug. 22 for the first-degree-murder of Odin Lloyd. The player's arraignment has been scheduled for Sept. 6 where he will plead "guilty" or "not guilty."
