All About Aaron Hernandez's Daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez

The late Aaron Hernandez shared daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez with his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez

For the late Aaron 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 player told the media shortly after Avielle was born on Nov. 6, 2012.

However, seven months after Avielle's birth, Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder for the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd and was immediately dropped by the Patriots. By April 2015, the young father was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Two years later, when Avielle was just 4 years old, Hernandez died by suicide in his prison cell — just days after being acquitted on additional murder charges.

"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.

Now, Avielle is being raised by her mother, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez.

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

She shares a birthday with Hernandez

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.

"I'm going to look at things differently," Hernandez said. "I may be young and wild, but I'm not. I'm engaged now. I have a baby so it's just gonna make me think of life a lot differently, and doing things the right way because now another one's looking up to me. I just can't be young and reckless Aaron no more."

In November 2023, Jenkins-Hernandez celebrated Avielle's 11th birthday with 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 was arrested on first-degree murder charges for 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 eventually found guilty of 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 in prison for the murder of Lloyd, Hernandez's second trial began in March 2017 — this time over accusations he murdered Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in a drive-by shooting outside of a Boston nightclub in 2012.

While the jury deliberated in April 2017, Hernandez's fiancée, Jenkins-Hernandez, attended the trial with Avielle in tow for the first time. The Washington Post reported 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.

On April 19, 2017, Hernandez died by suicide — five days after he was acquitted on double murder charges.

Hernandez left 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 Jenkins gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Giselle. Jenkins-Hernandez revealed her pregnancy on 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-Hernandez frequently shares images of the duo on her Instagram account, writing in July 2020: "I never have to worry about them taking care of each other !!!! #thebestoffriends❤️ #sisterlove