The prison suicide of convicted killer and former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was the "final chapter in a tragic story," according to Christian NFL star Benjamin Watson.
On Wednesday, the Baltimore Ravens tight end joined dozens of other athletes in weighing in on social media after news broke that Hernandez hanged himself in his Massachusetts prison cell.
"Aaron Hernandez death is final chapter in a tragic story. Too much loss of life and too much family including children left w/o these men," the father-of-four tweeted.
As reported, guards found the former New England Patriots star shortly after 3 a.m. on Wednesday at the state prison in Shirley, Correction Department spokesman Christopher Fallon said. The former tight end was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead about an hour later.
According to reports, the words "John 3:16" were written on his forehead and the wall with a red marker and a Bible was left open to the lines. The verse says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The former NFL star's death comes less than a week after he was acquitted of the 2012 murders of two Boston men. At the time of his death, Hernandez was already serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player.
The New York Times reports that Hernandez's death means his murder conviction will be erased under a centuries-old legal doctrine enshrined in Massachusetts' criminal case law.
When asked on Twitter if it's wrong for Christians to feel justice was served through Hernandez's suicide, Watson responded: "In this case justice is served by the state/ the people.If indeed suicide, he thwarted justice.Yes Outcome the same, but process different."
Another Christian athlete, Tim Tebow, and Tom Brady -- both teammates of Hernandez in college and the NFL -- reportedly tried to help the troubled football star early in his career.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that the athletes were concerned about Hernandez's behavior and spoke about it as early as 2011, with Hernandez being described as "a lot to handle." In 2007, Tebow also attempted to break up a fight involving Hernandez, who was then a 17-year-old freshman.
When Hernandez punched a bouncer in the head at The Swamp nightclub, causing a broken eardrum on April 28, 2007, Tebow reportedly tried to resolve the conflict.
"Tebow stated that he witnessed the dispute," a police officer wrote at the time "... Tebow stated that he went over to try to help resolve the conflict."
Tebow went on to say he urged Hernandez to leave peacefully and tried to make arrangements to pay the bill.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, when asked on CNBC last week to sum up Hernandez in a single word, replied: "Tragedy."
The Times reports that, asked if Hernandez's fate - at the time, life in prison - was also heartbreaking, Belichick responded: "Yes. That would be another word."
