Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who now faces first degree murder charges, had been reportedly addicted to the PCP drug ('angel dust) for quite some time adding to his dubious history of violence and drug abuse, as reported in a new Rolling Stone magazine article.
The Rolling Stone report explores the troubling slide for Hernandez, who went from a stand-out high school football star to the NFL and now a first degree murder suspect. Hernandez is under indictment for a June murder and has pleaded not guilty.
The article delves into Hernandez's troubles, which seemingly began when his father died in 2006. At the time, his mother became involved with a coke-dealer who moved into their house. As a result, Hernandez fell into an abyss, and grew increasingly paranoid, carriying a gun wherever he went, the article wrote.
"Sources close to the tight end add that throughout [last season]t, when players are expected to be preparing themselves for the marathon NFL season, Hernandez had missed workouts and sessions with a rehab trainer, and had been told by his head coach, Bill Belichick, that he was one misstep from being cut," Rolling Stone wrote.
Even when he was drafted and signed to a $40 million contract, he oft-times missed practices and smoked "three or four blunts" (marijuana) on his drives to home after games, the report goes on to say.
Hernandez was released by the Patriots after his murder arrest in late June.
Last week, Hernandez was indicted on a first degree murder charge in the death of a friend whose body was found in an industrial park about a mile from his home in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The six-count grand jury have charged Hernandez with killing 27-year-old Odin Lloyd who was a semi-professional football player from Boston dating the sister of Hernandez's girlfriend.
Hernandez had already pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June, and he is being held without bail at a county jail.
