All About Aaron Hernandez's Daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Jim Rogash/Getty ; Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez Instagram

For the lateAaron Hernandez, becoming a father to his daughter, Avielle Janelle Hernandez, 12, completely shifted his perspective.

“One thing I know is that it definitely changed my life,” the former New England Patriots playertold the mediashortly after Avielle was born on Nov. 6, 2012.

“Aaron had demons; we all know that. But he really was devoted to his daughter. Boy, did he love her,” said a former teammate of Hernandez’s from the University of Florida.

Here’s everything to know about the late NFL player’s only child, Avielle Janelle Hernandez.

She shares a birthday with Hernandez

Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez Instagram

Hernandez and his fiancée, Jenkins-Hernandez, welcomed their only child together on Nov. 6, 2012 — which also happened to be Hernandez’s 23rd birthday. The former Patriots tight end called Avielle’s arrival “the best birthday gift,“according to NBC Sports.

“It’s crazy … having a daughter on your birthday. Especially daddy’s little girl,” Hernandez told reporters. “It’s an honor. I couldn’t ask for my life to be better at this point. My life is pretty good. Thank God for that. It’s a blessing. I still feel blessed daily.”

Hernandez also spoke about how becoming a father was a “life changer” — and for the better.

In November 2023, Jenkins-Hernandez celebratedAvielle’s 11th birthdaywith a sweet post on Instagram.

“You have been such an inspiration to watch grow. Your dedication and hard work is something I’ll always admire - first one in, last one out ( just like your daddy ),” she wrote. “Keep being the amazing young lady you are and never lose that smile! Daddy would be so proud.”

She was 7 months old when Hernandez was arrested in 2013

On June 26, 2013 — when Avielle was just 7 months old — Hernandez wasarrested on first-degree murder chargesfor the shooting death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée at the time.

Prosecutors alleged that Hernandez, along with two other men, picked up Lloyd in a rented Nissan Altima at his home just after 2:30 a.m. on June 17, 2013, and drove him to a secluded industrial park in North Attleborough, where he was shot six times. It remains unclear who pulled the trigger, but prosecutors said that Hernandez orchestrated the killing.

The trial began nearly a year and a half later on Jan. 29, 2015. Hernandez was eventuallyfound guiltyof first-degree murder on April 15, 2015, and sentenced to life in prison.

She attended Hernandez’s double murder trial as a 4-year-old

While the jury deliberated in April 2017, Hernandez’s fiancée, Jenkins-Hernandez, attended the trial with Avielle in tow for the first time. TheWashington Postreported at the time that Hernandez blew his 4-year-old daughter several kisses and waves in the courtoom. It would be the last time Avielle saw her father alive.

Hernandezleft behind three suicide notes, including one for Avielle. “Daddy will never leave you! I’m entering to the timeless realm in which I can enter into any form at any time because everything that could happen or not happened I see all at once! Life is eternal—believe!!!” he wrote. “Love, repent, and see me/yourself in everyone because that’s what the truth is! I’ll see you all in the heavens awaiting you all with the same love.”

“Never fear me, but love me with all of you! Fear is the only separation between you and I! We are each other—I/you—you/me—there’s no need to fear but what you do unto another will come back around!”

She’s a big sister

On June 16, 2018, Avielle became a big sister when Jenkinsgave birth to her second child, a daughter named Giselle. Jenkins-Hernandezrevealed her pregnancyon Instagram in May 2018, 13 months after her fiancé Hernandez died in prison. Sources close to the family confirmed to PEOPLE that Hernandez did not freeze his sperm and was not the father of Jenkins-Hernandez’s second child.

Despite their five-year age gap, Avielle appears to be a doting big sister to Giselle. Jenkins-Hernandezfrequently shares imagesof the duo on her Instagram account, writing in July 2020: “I never have to worry about them taking care of each other !!!! #thebestoffriends❤️ #sisterlove💕.”

She is a dancer

Avielle has been dancing competitively since she was at least 6 years old when Jenkins-Hernandez firstshared an imageof her older child sporting a competitive dance team jacket. Around the same time, when Avielle was entering 1st grade in 2019, Jenkins-Hernandezrevealed on social mediathat Avielle aspired to be a professional dancer when she grew up.

Jenkins-Hernandez maintains that she’s done what’s in her daughter’s best interests when it comes to any fundsdistributed from Hernandez’s trust to her.

“Since Aaron’s death, my sole focus has been on raising and providing as stable a life for my children as possible,” the mom of two claimed in an e-mail to theBoston Globe. “All monies I have spent have been with this singular focus in mind, and this will continue to be my focus going forward.”

She has the same “energy and personality” as her father

When Avielle was born, Hernandez immediately spoke of the resemblance between himself and his only child. “She’s a cutie,” he told the media two days after her birth in 2012. “I can’t wait to go back and basically look at myself.”

Jenkins-Hernandez has also spoken about how the two share similar personality traits. “The both of you act so much alike it’s insane,” shewrote on Instagramin November 2017. In April 2019, on the two year anniversary of Hernandez’s death, his fiancéeshared: “The energy and personality Avielle has is totally you!”

Sheechoed a similar sentimenttwo years later in April 2021, writing how Avielle keeps Hernandez’s “presence alive.”

Her dad’s case made headlines again in 2024

During the May 2024 Netflix specialThe Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady,both Brady and comedian Nikki Glaser mentioned Hernandez, with Glaser joking about him wearing a ring “around his neck.”

After the special, Jenkins-Hernandez toldTMZthat she wasn’t happy about the references, especially now that Avielle is old enough to know what was said.

“It’s sad that I’mtrying to raise my childrenin such a cruel world,” she said.

source: people.com