Dennis Hernandez, the older brother of late NFL star Aaron Hernandez, just got out of prison after serving 18 months for making some seriously disturbing threats.
Back in 2023, he talked about carrying out a mass shooting at the University of Connecticut and even threatened to kill a judge. Now, he’s a free man.
The Wild Threats That Landed Him in Jail
It all started when Hernandez, who used to play football at UConn himself, made social media posts threatening violence. He even took a road trip to UConn and Brown University—where he once coached—just to “map things out.” If that wasn’t bad enough, he also allegedly named three specific people he planned to target.
His mother, Terri Hernandez, later told police that Dennis was struggling with serious mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. During his arrest, he was reportedly tasered by officers while shouting for them to shoot him.
Why He’s Walking Free
After spending 18 months behind bars, Hernandez was sentenced to time served. That means he’s done—no extra jail time. Instead, he’ll be under three years of supervised release, which includes mandatory mental health treatment and electronic monitoring.
His Lawyer’s Take
His public defender, Josh Ewing, said Hernandez is deeply remorseful and horrified by what he did. According to Ewing, Dennis was in the middle of a full-blown mental health crisis and now understands the gravity of his actions.
What’s Next for Hernandez?
Along with his supervised release, Hernandez will need to stay away from UConn, Brown University, and the people he threatened. He also has to follow strict mental health and substance abuse treatment plans.
A Troubled Past
This isn’t the first time Hernandez has made headlines. Just before his arrest, he allegedly threw a brick with an angry note attached onto the ESPN headquarters property in Connecticut. That case, along with another in Florida, is expected to be dismissed now that the federal case is over.
The Aaron Hernandez Connection
Dennis’ brother, Aaron Hernandez, was a former New England Patriots tight end who was convicted of murder in 2015. He later died by suicide in 2017 while serving a life sentence. The family has been in and out of the news ever since.
With Dennis Hernandez now out of jail, the big question is whether he can truly turn his life around. With a history of mental health struggles and run-ins with the law, he’ll be under the microscope for years to come.
Stay tuned—this story might not be over yet.
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