Former New England Patriot star, Aaron Hernandez was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on the 15^th of April. A significant low for a young man who once received a $40 million pro-football contract. Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.

Hernandez, age 25, appeared to shake his head “no” earlier as jurors in the Massachusetts trial found him guilty of first-degree murder. He was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

During the trial, the defense team describes Lloyd, a former semi-pro football player, as Hernandez’s “bluntmaster”, or his purveyor of marijuana. Lloyd was also Hernandez’s future brother-in-law.

“Odin was my only son,” his mother, Ursula Ward, told the court, without looking at Hernandez. “Odin was the man of the house. Odin was his sisters’ keeper. After my daughter, Olivia, had her daughter, Odin became her keeper, too.”

“I thank God every second for every day I spent with my son. The day I laid my son Odin to rest, I think my heart stopped beating for a moment. I felt like I wanted to go in that hole with my son Odin.”

Lloyd was “the backbone of the family,” Ward said and expressed regret she’d never see him have a child and that she’d never dance at his wedding.

Lloyd’s mother found forgiveness in her heart:, “I forgive the hands of the people that had a hand in my son’s murder, either before or after. And I pray and hope that someday, everyone up there will forgive them also.”

As the verdict was read, the former standout tight end appeared upset, but kept calm pursing his lips and taking a deep breath, as his lawyer James Sultan put his arm around him.

He looked over to see his mother, Terri, and fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, weeping. Shayanna is the sister of the victim’s former girlfriend, Shaneah Jenkins.

The jury deliberated for more than 35 hours over parts of the seven days.

The prosecution portrayed Hernandez as cold, calculating and insecure — a man who believed others should be grateful for his attention, one capable of murder for merely disrespecting him in the presence of others.

Evidence collected in Lloyd’s death led to two more murder charges against Hernandez in a separate case in Boston. He has pleaded not guilty. That trial was scheduled to begin in May, but officials say it will be pushed back.