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= Tho Commonwoalth of NEssachusolts Department of Fate Bolice coomene amen AMiesachustte Pata Lelie Dactive Usit pencil Wearceter County District Attorney ag poser 81 Lafayette Porect cot ene. Wcator, HEA 01608 Thursday, May04,2017 t Detve LieenantAlnD. Hane #120, Unit Commander Sate Police Detective Unt- Worcester County FROM: Trooper ames Foley, #2759 Sate Police Detective Unit - Worcester County SUBJECT: Death Investigation of Aaron J Hemandez DOB: 11/06/1989 atthe Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, MA on April 19, 2017 1. On Wesnesdey, April 19,2017 at approximately 0415 hs, the undersigned was advised by the CHQ Duty Office that the Massachusets Department of Coretions was reporting the unattended death of 27 yearoldHispnis male, HERNANDEZ, Aaron, in cell #57 of the general housing uoi-2 athe Souza-Baranowski Conectonal Center. The undesianed was further advised tht HERNANDEZ was anspor tthe UMASS Heath Alliance Hospi in Leominster, where HERNANDEZ was ronounced deceased, 2. The undersigned responded slong with Lieutenant Danial Wilgrube and Tpr Kristin Ganton of SSS othe UMASS Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster. Upon aval the undersigned spoke with ‘Sergeant Todd Smith of the Massachusets Deparment of Cortetions Office of Investigative Services. 1 ge Rcallnen oe Peron Tanugh Reality Paling ‘Sergeant Smith advised that at around 0303 hes code “99" was called by Conon Officer Gerard Breau reporting HERNANDEZ was hanged in cellt $7. Once other CorectonsOfies arrived on seen, the Conetion Offices discovered the doo was “pegged”; cardboard had ben shoved into the oor ack to preven the doo from opening, The Correction Officers had o manly pen the door enter the cll. As they entre the cll the Conetion Offices discovered tht HERNANDEZ had placed ‘lage amount of shampoo on he flr, which made it very slippery. The Correcon Offices were able twcut HERNANDEZ down, who was hanged naked fiom a bed shee ted aroundthe window bars. As the Comection Officers began CPR, meical staf ave on sone and sttached the AED, which advised “No Shock”. CPR was continued as HERNANDEZ was transported to UMASS Heath Alliance Hospital in Leominster by Woods Ambulnce 3. Upon arrival at UMASS Health Alliance Hospital, HERNANDEZ vias tested by Doctor Evan ined consciousness and was declared deceased at 0407 brs by Dr 4 Asthe undersigned entered the treatment oom inthe emergency room ofthe UMASS Heth Alliance Hospital at approximately 0521 hs, the undersigned observed Coreton Office Hilton and Correction Offices Aziz standing by a gumey covered witha shet. The undersigned removed the sheet and observed HERNANDEZ witha cervical collarbrace.Ligatue marks were vse on HERNANDEZ’s neck and there was some dscharge/vomit fom his nase and meuth areas NN 11£RNANDEZ's right idl ger had a sh cut and there was some blood on the adjacent fingers. Thee also appeared to be a large rele blood mark on tach of HERNANDEZ's fet and “John 3:16" was written on HERNANDEZ’ ferchesd in nk, There sere no othe gn of trauma or vilence on HERNANDEZ’s body. Petechil hemorrhaging was present in both eyes. Lividity was present and rigor mots was beginning to sett. Tr. Glanton shotographicaly documented HERNANDEZ 's boy. 21g: Becalanon On Prion hah Reolity Polesing 5. Representatives ofthe Offce of the Chief Medial Examiner aived on sene and took custody of HERNANDEZ’s boy at approximately 0630 hrs. HERNANDEZ’s body was transported tothe OCME office in Boston. 6 Lieenant Wilde, Tp Glanon andthe undersigned responded to Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center on Api 19,2017. St Sith vised the undersigned that HERNANDEZ had teem locke in is single nmat: cell around 1959 rs. HERNANDEZ remained in the cll nti 0303 ‘us when HERNANDEZ was Gscovered hanged. Sergeant Smith nd Sergeant Michael Rumery, the Imer Perimeter Security Commander advised the undersigned that thre was vdeo survellance ofthe (G2 cl block from he time HERNANDEZ entre the cll ntl thetme he was transported by Woods “Ambulance. According to SgtRumery no one entre he cell until Carecton Orfcer Breau entered 10 render a 7. Lieutenant Wildgrbe, Tp Glanton andthe undersigned observed the cardboard stuffed int the oor tracks prior to entering the cell On the wall inthe cell were several drawings and “John 3:16 ‘wten ine substance consistent with Blood. Under the drawings was a Bible open to John 3:16, with the 16th verse marked in blood. Next tothe Bible were 3 hand writen 0c MMI 1 cersiged ook custody ofthe notes. 8. Under the bed was apiece of bed sheet that had been cut nd that hd been around HERNANDEZ's neck. Tied‘ the bars on the window was the other piece ofthe bed set. Lieutsnant Willgrabe cut the sheet fom the window and pled tint evidence. There were no signs of struggle in he cll. Tpr Clanton photogrphiclly documented the sene Brcelence on Femvice Through Quality Bolicing 9. Lieutenant Wilgrube and th undersigned spake with Coetion Ofer Breau on Api 19,2017 Conetion fcr Breau advised hat he was working the 250-0700 sit and was asigned tothe G2 hosing unit. Corection Officer Breau last saw HERNANDEZ sound O10 rs during the 0100 check ‘According to Comection Officer Breau around 0303 hs he observed a sheet hanged in font of HERNANDEZ’ cell door. Conetion fcr Breau stked HERNANDEZ to remove the shet or sound off: As Conetion Officer Breau poked at piece ofthe short that was hanging out ofthe dor, the Sheet fll and CO Breau cbserved HERNANDEZ hanged naked fom the window. Correction Officer Brea immediately called a code “9 and one the dor opened, Conestion Officer Breau and other Correction Officers tempted tli HERNANDEZ upto relieve pressure. As HERNANDEZ was cut sown, Conection Oficer Brau began performing chest compressions and swapped outwith other Correction Officers until HERNANDEZ. was removed from the unit. 10, Sgt Rumery and Set Smith provide the undersigned with copes ofthe video survellne, logs and ‘eprsin reference to HERNANDEZ's dest, Al ether tems deemed to hae no evidentiary val were leftin he custody of ihe Department of Coneetons. Over the course ofthe investigation the undersigned reviewed surveillance video ofthe G2 housing unit nd phone bys and calls of HERNANDEZ on Apei 3, 2017. The surveillance video shows hat HERNANDEZ was onthe ‘Phone just prior to being locked in his ell, HERNANDEZ enters is cel one at approximately 1959 hrs and the cell door is locked unt 0307 hs when the door is opened forthe code 99", The undersigned ls listened ols 5 phone calls HERNANDEZ made on April 18,2017. HERNANDEZ. oes not make any apparent indication ofan intent to harm himselt during any ofthe phone call 11, On Wednesday April 19,2017, Doctor Henry Niels ofthe OCME perfirmed an autopsy of| HERNANDEZ. Dr. Nields determined the cause of death o be aaphyxia byhanging. The manner of Seah was ruled by Dr Nields asa suicide. postmortem toxicology of HERNANDEZ’: blood came back negative forall substances tested t include sythati cannabinoid Boraonee hu Paice Thosugh Realty Pobaing 12, On April 24,2017 the undersigned responded tothe Department of Corrections Office of| Investigative Services in Milford, MA. The undesigned took custody of copy of ete found in HERNANDEZ’ propery s wll as, copies of several known writing samples of HERNANDEZ. 1B, On April 24,2017 at spproximstly 1400 brs, the undersigned delivered copies ofthe leters found in HERNANDEZ’scell andthe known writing samples rovied by the Department of Corctons to ‘McCann Associates, nc. in Boston. All copies of eters and writing samples were tured aver to Nancy MeCann fr review. 1M, On May 3, 2017 the undersigned received a copy of MeCann Associates, ne, Preliminary ‘Questioned Document Report. The rept was prepared by Nancy McCann and determined! with "Yeasonable degree of certainty” thatthe letters found in Hernando’ cell and properties were written by HERNANDEZ, 15, Based upon the findings ofthe Office ofthe Chief Medical Examiner and the investigation by the Undersigned, the undersigned respectfully requests this ate be closed unless nev information is ncowered th wold warantthe case being re-opened Respeciily Submited “Trooper James J Foley, #2739 Massachusetts State Police ‘State Police Detective Unit: Worcester County sive Baceonce On Feovien Thsagh Rualty ebiing

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