Fans who bought Aaron Hernandez’s No. 81 jersey at the New England Patriots’ pro shop can trade it in for free, the team said Friday as the ex-NFL player remained jailed on a murder charge.
The jersey exchange will be available exclusively at the Patriots’ shop on July 6 and 7, the team said in a release posted on its website.
“We know that children love wearing their Patriots jerseys, but may not understand why parents don’t want them wearing their Hernandez jerseys anymore,” said New England Patriots spokesperson Stacey James.
“We hope this opportunity to exchange those jerseys at the Patriots ProShop for another player’s jersey will be well received by parents.”
Hernandez was arrested on Wednesday and held on a murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd on June 17.
Lloyd’s bloodied body was found at an industrial park less than a mile from Hernandez’s luxury home.
He pleaded not guilty, but less than two hours after the 23-year-old tight end was arrested and led from his house in handcuffs, the NFL’s Patriots cut ties with him.
On Thursday, his appeal to be released on bail was denied.
The case continued to develop on Friday when another man wanted in connection with the case, Carlos Ortiz, was arrested in Connecticut and extradited to Massachusetts.
A third man wanted as an accessory after the fact in the case, Ernest Wallace, turned himself in to authorities in Florida on Friday after hearing his name in media reports, a spokeswoman for the Miramar, Florida, police department said.
In addition to first-degree murder, Hernandez faces five gun-related charges.
On Wednesday, prosecutor William McCauley said in a court hearing that Hernandez and two associates had murdered Lloyd in an execution-style slaying because Hernandez was angry his friend had spoken with people he “had troubles with.”
McCauley said Hernandez “orchestrated” Lloyd’s execution.
On Thursday, the Boston Globe and ABC News both reported that Hernandez is also being investigated in connection with the July 2012 drive-by shooting deaths of two men, Daniel Abreu and Safino Furtado.
Both the Globe and ABC News cited unnamed law enforcement sources.
Hernandez, who played three seasons for the Patriots, received a $12.5 million bonus when he sealed a contract extension last August, which took him up to 2018.
He made 79 catches for 910 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2011 season but played only 10 games last year due to injuries, making 51 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns.