Aaron Hernandez's Daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez - On Losing Her Father
How a Avielle Janelle Hernandez surpassed the trials life gave her at a very young age. And how she lived through the pain of losing a father.
Author:Emily SanchezReviewer:James PierceOct 09, 202311.9K Shares159.2K Views
Losing someone at a young age is traumatizing, especially if you lose them in the most painful way. Growing up without a father leaves a massive hole in a child's life. And seeing a father being taken away from his child is a heartbreaking scene. How could a young child bear all that pain?
Let's take a look at Avielle Janelle Hernandez's life, who lost a father. And how she stood up stronger and braver.
Who Is Avielle Janelle Hernandez?
Avielle Janelle Hernandez is the late Aaron Hernandez's daughter, whose case has been a favorite media eye-candy back in 2013. Her father was a former NFL player for the New England Patriots. Her mother, Shayanna Jenkins, is Aaron's childhood friend and sweetheart.
Shayanna gave birth to Avielle on November 6, 2012, in Bristol, Connecticut. She was deprived of the opportunity to spend her childhood with her father or any time at all. Avielle's birth was big news since her father was quite famous. Later on, for the coming years, Avielle was closely monitored by the media regarding her father's case.
Avielle grew up with a rough early childhood. With all the public's attention on her and her mother, Avielle was robbed of the freedom to do what a child of such age should be doing.
Her Parents' Relationship
Aaron Hernandez and Shayanna Jenkins have been friends since childhood. They met during their elementary years and eventually became childhood sweethearts. They started dating in 2007, right after they graduated from high school. They have known each other for a long time; that is why they are so close. Aside from that, they both consider each other as best friends. They are said to have a very healthy relationship, which is possible since they share an irreplaceable bond and have built their relationship on friendship.
The couple lived together for five years before they decided to get engaged in 2012. By that time, Shayanna was already pregnant with their daughter, Avielle.
The birth of Avielle Janelle was a blessing for the couple. They have lived their lives happily and content with each other. They finally decided to get married in 2014. But like all other stories, an unexpected plot twist that shattered their life happened.
The Turning Point In Avielle's Life
The couple did not realize that their daughter's birth would be the last time they would celebrate in full attendance. And that their plan to tie the knot would never come true.
In 2013, just months after Avielle was born, Aaron was convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd. Aaron and Odin are friends, and the murder of Odin caused an uproar in the media, primarily because his body was found one mile away from Hernandez's residence. All the substantial evidence points to Aaron. And since he is the only friend in the neighborhood, he became the prime suspect of the crime.
A lengthy trial changed the way the family lived. They have been frequently shown on television because of Aaron's case. In 2015, Aaron was found guilty of a first-case murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole. They did not disclose the reason as to why Aaron murdered Odin to the media.
Aside from that, while the trial for the murder of Odin was on-going, several crimes resurfaced. Aaron was not only charged with the murder of Odin but also of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Moreover, a rumor leaked through social media that Aaron was gay. Shayanna said that Aaron is very much a man to her and doesn't believe him to be gay.
Shayanna, Avielle's mother, broke off the engagement while the prosecution was happening. The case wrecked their relationship. But although they never got married, Shayanna allowed Avielle to take her father's last name in 2015. It is an act to honor Aaron as the father of Avielle and probably the only memento he could leave his daughter.
For five years, Avielle has lived her life apart from her father. And as young as five years old, she lost her father. Aaron Hernandez committed suicidein 2017 inside his cell. He left a note to little Avielle, but Avielle was too young to understand what was happening. Hernandez's family lawyer said that Aaron suffered from depression, based on the autopsy report. And the unfortunate turn of events in his life led him further into the darkness, which caused him to end his misery by ending his life. The reality that he could never spend his life with his daughter and supposed-to-be wife broke his heart.
A docu-series entitled Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, whichpremiered on Netflix, brought Aaron's life to light. The series analyzed how such a gifted football player turned into a killer.
Lawsuit Against NFL
Last February 2019, the Hernandezes filed a lawsuit against the NFLbecause Aaron's death occurred after they passed the NFL concussion settlement. Aaron was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during that time, which he got by repeated head injuries. CTE is a degenerative brain disease. It added to Aaron's depression.
The NFL concussion settlement includes compensation for suicides related to it. And since Aaron was diagnosed with CTE and died by committing suicide, his lawyer believes that Avielle should be allowed to file a "loss of consortium" lawsuit against the defendant. Their family lawyer, Brad Sohn, firmly stated that the NFL is responsible for the damage Avielle endured because of her father's CTE.
In February 2019, it was ruled by the judge that Avielle could not file a $20 million lawsuit against the offender. Their efforts were thrown into the garbage.
Life Today
With her mother's love and care, Avielle was able to carry on with her life despite the absence of a father. Today, Avielle is already eight years old. She lives with her mother and her new family. Her mother met a new guy shortly after her parents' engagement broke off. She now has a father figure named Dino Guilmetteand a step-sister named Giselle.
Even though Avielle's early five years were full of controversies about her father, that did not stop her from living normally in the years that followed; as she is now in 3rd grade, she loves dancing and decided to attend Cheryl's School of Dance in Rhode Island. It is expected that she will pursue a career path in dance showbiz.
Net Worth
Avielle was born in an affluent family. Her father, a professional football player, accumulated a tremendous amount of money throughout his career. Although Aaron lost most of his money during the trial, he could still leave a hefty amount of fortune to his only child. He also had a mansion worth $1.3 million, which Shayanna sold after his death.
As the sole heiress of Hernandez's fortune, Avielle's net worth is estimated at around $2 million. Since she is still young to hold the finances, she shares her fortune with her mother.
Social Media Presence
Avielle is too young to be allowed to operate any social media account. And since it isn't that long since the controversy about her father's crimes and death, Avielle has limits when it comes to social interactions. Shayanna is doing her best to protect her daughter from the public's accusations and criticisms.
To get some updates about Avielle, you can check Shayanna's Instagram account. She posts photos and videos of Avielle dancing.
As young as five years old, Avielle was already exposed to the public's scrutiny. But with the love and support of her loving family, she was able to move forward and see the beauty in every situation. Despite all the heartbreaks they went through, Avielle and her mother finally had their breakthrough.
Emily Sanchez
Author
James Pierce
Reviewer
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