When the Patriots selected Aaron Hernandez in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft, his mother Terri might have thought she was living out a dream come true. But about two months later, she probably felt like she was stuck in a nightmare.
Aaron Hernandez’ father Dennis died in January of 2006 after suffering a fatal infection following a routine hernia surgery. Three years later, his mother married a man named Jeffrey Cummings — but that relationship didn’t go too well.
In June of 2010 — two months after the Patriots drafted Hernandez and less than one month after he signed his first NFL contract — Cummings attacked and stabbed Terri Hernandez inside her Bristol, Conn., home, according to The Daily Beast. She suffered cuts on her face and shoulder from the incident. Cummings, who already had a criminal record for domestic violence, was arrested, charged and convicted of slashing her in the assault. Terri divorced Cummings in December of 2010, while he was in prison serving a two-year sentence.
The report also says that Cummings was arrested for assaulting a police officer and failing 19 drug tests, including 13 for marijuana and six for cocaine, during a nine-month span.
A Pro Bowl tight end, Hernandez was arrested and charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd late last month. His mother has already stated publicly that she believes her son is innocent and will be proven as such.