Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez is a 2020 American true-crime documentary series. It is about a convicted murderer and former professional American football player Aaron Hernandez.
The three-part documentary explores his conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd. It also explores other murder cases in which he was a suspect. The documentary also states the factors in his life that shaped his behavior.
Friends, officials, attorneys, journalists, and former teammates discuss the rise, fall, and eventual suicide of professional football player Aaron Hernandez (1989–2017), who was sentenced to life in prison after his conviction for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Production
In January 2017, director Geno McDermott met with journalists Dan Wetzel and Kevin Armstrong. They had both covered Hernandez’s trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd. Also, they were writing a book about Hernandez. They began gathering interviews and other research for the documentary. After a year and a half, McDermott originally compiled a documentary film. The film was My Perfect World: The Aaron Hernandez Story. It was shown at the DOC NYC film festival but decided to make it a series after partnering with Netflix.
Information about Hernandez’s sexuality was not in the original film, as it was unsubstantiated. McDermott spent several days interviewing Dennis SanSoucie and his father for the documentary. They began investigating CTE following Hernandez’s death when his autopsy revealed a “severe” case of the degenerative brain disease. After Hernandez died by suicide, McDermott filed an FOIA request. He did this because he wanted to obtain recordings of Hernandez’s phone calls from jail and prison. But, Hernandez’s immediate family “very respectfully” declined to participate.
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Official Trailer
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Cast
In the movie, we see Kevin Armstrong, Dan Wetzel, Patrick Haggan, and Stephen Ziogas. Also, we have Thomas Hodgson, Tim Sansoucie, Dwayne Marion Johnson, and Dennis Sansoucie. Mike Massey, Ryan O’Callaghan, and Leigh Bodden are also a part of the movie.
Then we have Jamaal Lewis, Maria Cramer, Jermaine Wiggins, William Camara, Susan Candiotti, Kristen St. John, and Chris Borland. Jose Baez, Carol Bailey, Jeffrey Montez de Oca, Shane Hickey, George Leontire, and Kelly Williams are in the movie.
Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Story Line:
Episode 1
Aaron Hernandez’s life as a football star for the New England Patriots comes to a crashing halt. This happens following his arrest for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd a semi-pro football player. Journalists investigate Hernandez’s early life growing up as a football star. He was the son of a local football legend turned abusive alcoholic in Bristol, Connecticut. His former high school quarterback, Dennis Sansoucie, reveals he and Hernandez began a sexual relationship in the seventh grade. This went on till their junior year in high school. Police investigating the Lloyd murder discover a silver SUV. It linked Hernandez to an unsolved 2012 double homicide of immigrants from Cape Verde in Boston.
Episode 2
After the unexpected death of his father in 2006, Hernandez surprises his family by playing for the Florida Gators. At Florida, Hernandez shines under coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Tim Tebow. But the pressure takes its toll on the teen star and red flags emerge. In 2010, 20-year-old Hernandez is drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round. Friends recall Hernandez exhibiting increasing paranoia. Prosecutors try Hernandez for Lloyd’s murder in 2013 while investigating his role in the 2012 double homicide that baffled police.
Episode 3
Hernandez’s paranoia leads to him shoot Alexander Bradley. He survives and later testifies that he witnessed him killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub in 2012. At the Odin Lloyd murder trial, Patriots owner Robert Kraft gives damning testimony that implicates Hernandez. According to it, he was guilty of first-degree murder. Because of this, he had to spend his life in prison. Celebrity lawyer Jose Baez represents Hernandez in the double homicide case, and he is acquitted. Hernandez dies by suicide days after a Boston radio station outs him and the autopsy reveals severe CTE damage.