It has been almost three years since National Football League (NFL) star Aaron Hernandez took his own life by hanging but his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, still has his memories etched in her heart. It can be recalled that Hernandez’s troubled life came to a chilling end on April 19, 2017, just five days after he was acquitted of the 2012 Boston double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

When the police found his lifeless body inside his prison cell, they discovered three handwritten suicidal notes next to a Bible, each addressed to Shayanna, their daughter Avielle Jenkins, and his lawyer and good friend Jose Baez. In contrast to his straightforward letter to Baez, his letters to Shayanna and Avielle were rather disjointed and ominous. Hernandez told his wife and his daughter in what the Boston Globe described as “strange, rambling, mystical and tender” notes that he’s entering a “timeless realm” and that he would see them in heaven.

Despite his grim downfall, Shayanna has never lost his love for Hernandez. After his death, she had a judge approve her request to change her and their daughter’s last name to Hernandez, signifying her undying love for the NFL player.

Last year, on the anniversary of Hernandez’s suicide, she shared a photo of him holding their child in bed and revealed in the caption how much she still cherishes their memories together. “Today we think of you with heavy hearts and positive memories,” she wrote. “Although you aren’t here physically, Avielle and I speak about you often and keep you in close spirit,” she added.

Aaron Hernandez and Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, speaks out for the very first time since the former NFL star committed suicide in prison. Photo: Youtube/ Dr. Phil

Shayanna also launched a lawsuit against the NFL following Hernandez’s death, alleging the league of being fully aware of Hernandez’s mental condition but failing to disclose it. In her suit, she stated that the mental injury experienced by Hernandez during his time in the NFL had led to his death, depriving the young Avielle of the love and affection of a father.

Hard as it might have been at first for Shayanna, she slowly managed to turn over a new leaf in her life. Now, she has another baby with Rhode Island boxer Dino Guilmette and is a happy mom of two despite her plate always being full. As for her daughter with Hernandez, Avielle, she is now 7 years old and is living with her mother in Rhode Island.

In one of her Instagram posts, Shayanna Jenkins once indicated how Avielle reminds her a lot of Hernandez. According to Shayanna, Avielle totally got her energy and personality from her late dad. Months before she gave birth to her second child, Shayanna revealed that Avielle was already prepared to become the “best big sister” to her half-sister.

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