Aaron Hernandez, a former tight end with the New England Patriots, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015, hanged himself in prison, the authorities said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Massachusetts Department of Correction said he was discovered in his cell by corrections officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Mass., around 3 a.m.
Lifesaving techniques were attempted and he was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m., the department said in the statement.
“Mr. Hernandez hanged himself using a bedsheet that he attached to his cell window,” the statement said.