Morbid Instinct: Killer Inside - The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Review

In this episode of Morbid Instinct, Jeremy, Josh, Colette, and Elaine tackle the tragic and perplexing story of NFL star Aaron Hernandez, as detailed in the Netflix docuseries Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. The series explores Hernandez's rise to fame as a tight end for the New England Patriots and his shocking fall from grace after being convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd.

The discussion centers on the potential factors that led to Hernandez's violent behavior, with a heavy focus on the severe CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) found in his brain after his death. The hosts debate how much his brain injury, compounded by a history of abuse and drug use, contributed to his impulsivity and paranoia. They also criticize the docuseries for its heavy-handed focus on Hernandez's sexuality, questioning whether it was a relevant motive for his crimes or just sensationalism. The crew touches on the enabling culture of college football, the "double life" Hernandez led, and the chilling lack of remorse he showed during his first trial compared to his emotional reaction to the acquittal in his second trial.

Key Highlights
[01:57] The Draft Slide: Jeremy notes that despite being more talented than fellow draft pick Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez fell to the fourth round due to character concerns that were already evident in college.
[07:00] Sexuality as Motive?: The hosts criticize the documentary for repeatedly bringing up Hernandez's alleged closeted sexuality as a potential motive for the murder of Odin Lloyd, arguing it felt speculative and irrelevant.
[09:36] CTE and Brain Damage: A serious discussion on the impact of CTE, with the crew noting that Hernandez had one of the most severe cases ever seen in someone his age (27), likely affecting his impulse control and emotional stability.
[16:04] Camera Evidence: The hosts are baffled by Hernandez's stupidity in committing crimes while his own home surveillance system was recording, capturing footage of him holding a gun and interacting with accomplices shortly after the murder.
[23:08] Paranoia: Colette brings up testimony from Hernandez's agent about his increasing paranoia, suggesting he felt threatened and unsafe, which may have fueled his violent reactions.
[34:56] Sloppy Crime Scene: The crew mocks the "sloppiness" of the Odin Lloyd murder, pointing out the overwhelming evidence left behind, including cell phone tracking, shell casings found in a rental car (stuck to gum), and surveillance footage.