Just before 3 p.m. EST Wednesday afternoon, ex-New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with first degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, as well as five other gun-related charges. He pleaded not guilty to all six counts, and will be held without bail until his next court date on July 24.UPDATE 7/29/2013 4:50pm ET: Report: Pond searched for Lloyd murder weapon
Citing Hernandez' text messages and several surveillance video and audio clips, including one of Hernandez with the suspected murder weapon, the prosecution said that Hernandez "orchestrated the execution" of Lloyd because he was upset that Lloyd had taken a group of people that Hernandez wasn't fond of to a nightclub. Last weekend, Lloyd, Hernandez and the two other men went out to a nightclub. The prosecutor said authorities have tape of Hernandez before driving to pick up Lloyd saying "You can't trust anyone anymore," and carrying a gun.
Complicating their investigation, but further implicating Hernandez, is the fact that up to eight hours of surveillance footage from Hernandez' house taken near the time of the murder was missing. Footage shows Hernandez and the two other men - but not Lloyd - entering the house and carrying a gun to the basement, when the cameras were shut off.
Because of the detail of the timeline the prosecution presented in court, it seems likely that authorities were able to speak with someone involved in the incident, possibly even one of the other two men with Hernandez and Lloyd. However, both the prosecution and defense agreed to seal records of the case.
Update: Thursday, 6/27 8:50 a.m. PST
A second man has been arrested in connection with Hernandez' case. Carlos Ortiz was arrested in Hernandez' hometown of Bristol, Conn. on Wednesday and is currently being held on $1.5 million bail.
Update: Thursday, 6/27 9:45 a.m. PST
Hernandez is being looked into as a possible suspect in a double homicide that took place in downtown Boston last July. It is believed that Lloyd may have known about Hernandez' role in the killings, providing a motive for his suspected murder of Lloyd.
Update: 6/27/2013 12:02 p.m. PST
Aaron Hernandez' has been denied bail by a superiorcourt judge in an appeal hearing Thursday afternoon. Hernandez was denied bail in his arraignment hearing in district court Wednesday. His defense team argued that he is a homeowner with a fiancée and and 8-month-old child and therefore not a flight risk, and proposed he be kept on house arrest with a monitoring device. But the judge rulled that it was well within Hernandez' means to flee.
Update: 6/27/2013 2:33 p.m. PST
Aaron Hernandez cleared wavers this afternoon after being released by the Patriots, and the NFL released a statement:
"NFL clubs were advised today that if Aaron Hernandez enters into a player contract prior to the resolution of the charges pending against him, the contract will not be approved or take effect until Commissioner Roger Goodell holds a hearing. The purpose of the hearing would be to determine whether Hernandez should be suspended or face other action prior to the charges being resolved."
Update 6/28 11 a.m. PST:
A third man wanted in connection with the death of Odin Lloyd has been arrested in Florida, according to MyFoxBoston. The Boston Globe first reported this morning that police were searching for Ernest Wallace, 41, an associate of Hernandez and Ortiz.
Keep it locked here for the latest on the Aaron Hernandez murder trial.