In January 2020, three years after former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez's
suicide in prison at the age of 27, Netflix released a docuseries about his tumultuous
life titled, Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez.
The project is generating a lot of buzz on social media and some of the chatter has caused
Hernandez's loved ones to speak out, including Shayanna Jenkins, his former fiancée and
the mother of his daughter.
The Connecticut native, who reportedly started dating Hernandez when they were in high school,
shared an emotional message on Instagram shortly after the film's premiere, hinting at the
emotional pain she's experienced seemingly due to being forced to relive the past.
"Um, in high school, we had a couple classes together, so our relationship kind of evolved."
It's a past that includes Hernandez being convicted in 2015 for killing her sister's
boyfriend, Odin Lloyd, being indicted and then acquitted of a double homicide at a Boston
nightclub, and Hernandez committing suicide one month before his conviction for killing
Lloyd was dismissed by a judge in Massachusetts.
The judge reportedly made the decision because the former football pro died before his appeal
could be heard, but a ruling from Massachusetts' highest court in March 2019 reinstated the
conviction, calling the legal precedent "outdated."
The last few years of Hernandez's life were undoubtedly difficult for Jenkins given her
deep ties to the athlete.
With the release of the Netflix docuseries, Jenkins received many messages from the public.
She wrote on Instagram on January 16th, 2020,
"I wanted to let all of you sweet sweet souls know I have tried to read every message sent
on IG and through email (positive and negative)...
The amount of support and positive energy is again unreal!
I'm sure you will all understand how imperative it is to take some time away from social media."
This isn't the first time Jenkins has spoken about her history with Hernandez.
She spoke with Dr. Phil McGraw in May 2017, and she also gave an interview to ABC News
in August 2018.
Then there's Oxygen's 2018 series, Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, which she appears in multiple times.
Jenkins explained to Dr. Phil after Hernandez's death,
"I just want him to be known for what he is instead of what people are speculating him
out to be from what they see on TV."
Jenkins isn't afraid to share her feelings, no matter how difficult it might be.
Case in point?
On the anniversary of Hernandez's death in April 2019, she took to Instagram to let him
know she and his daughter, Avielle, are doing just fine, writing,
"Today we think of you with heavy hearts and positive memories!
Although you aren't here physically Avielle and I speak about you often and keep you in
close spirit.
The energy and personality Avielle has is totally you!"
In the post, Jenkins also addressed her support group, adding,
"They say it takes a village and that's very true, I've had a great support group overall
... however, I'd like to especially appreciate the men in Avielle's life that have been the
guidance she needs and more she may not know it yet but you all have a huge impact on her
life and Aaron wouldn't want it any other way!!!
Because of the emotional support you all have shown and provided this day pushes me to be
stronger and accomplish what Aaron may have wanted to."
Despite the village surrounding Jenkins, there are still days when she's plagued with unanswered
questions about her life with Hernandez.
Jenkins admitted on Oxygen's Aaron Hernandez Uncovered,
"There are so many what-ifs.
You just never really know what demons he could've been facing."
Despite the feelings Netflix's documentary might have resurfaced for Jenkins, she's still
managing to move forward with her life.
The mom welcomed her second child into the world in June 2018, a daughter with boxer
Dino Guilmette.
It's unclear whether Jenkins and Guilmette are still together today, but based on her
Instagram account, it appears that Jenkins is happy living her life as a mother of two
adorable girls.
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