In fact, he had been both bullied and blackmailed, and it may be that it was being taunted in public with an anti-gay slur that lead to the 2013 killing for which he was locked up. The NY Daily News has the story:

http://tinyurl.com/n6gfwgj

See also http://tinyurl.com/mbhgrw2 about his high school relationship. More recently, he is said to have had a prison boyfriend to whom he wrote a suicide note. http://tinyurl.com/mbhgrw2

That note, along with messages to his fiancee and their four-year-old daughter was found next to a Bible opened to John 3:16– a verse Hernandez had written on his forehead with a red marker. It would seem that besides struggling to stay in the closet, the apparent bisexual was influenced by religion." Here's another account:

http://tinyurl.com/ly4bgzo

[The reference to the Biblical book of John is religious shorthand amounting to "Jesus saves" and is rather a fetish with some enthusiasts.]

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound former tight end for the Boston Patriots was a fine-looking man, though. He was 27 years old.