CHAD FINN

Aaron Hernandez?s life and death were tragic, by his doing

Aaron Hernandez was 23 years old when he played his last game for the Patriots, a 9-catch, 83-yard performance in an AFC Championship Game loss to the Ravens.

Elsa/Getty Images/File 2013

At nearly every turn, the former football star was responsible for what happened to him.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/14/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/da98f13a9cc44c859704029cc5892bf9-da98f13a9cc44c859704029cc5892bf9-0-9446.jpg Days after acquittal, Hernandez found hanged in his cell

The former Patriots star committed suicide in his cell Wednesday morning, the Department of Correction said. Hernandez?s lawyer said he will conduct his own investigation.

CHRISTOPHER L. GASPER

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Gasper1-14407.jpg To the end, we never quite figured out Aaron Hernandez

One of the most notorious figures in Boston sports history was also one of the most enigmatic.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/kreiter_hernandezvictim2_met.jpg ?I?m not happy about his death. It?s actually a shame,? says South End murder victim?s father

For Ernesto Abreu, there was no satisfaction in Aaron Hernandez?s death: It will not bring his son, Daniel, back.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2013/01/14/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/Lee_texpat21_spts.jpg Former teammate reacts to death of Aaron Hernandez

Dolphins lineman Mike Pouncey indicated the two had spoken recently in a message posted to Instagram.

Bristol, CT 080913 Aaron Hernandez year book photo (copy). (Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff)/ MET

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

In Connecticut, heartbreak and disbelief over Aaron Hernandez?s death

?It?s just so sad,? said a longtime friend who went to the same high school as Hernandez.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/71681c645e90486d8f0046ffc467fd18-71681c645e90486d8f0046ffc467fd18-0.jpg Aaron Hernandez?s reported mode of suicide unusual for facility

An advocate said she had never heard of an inmate hanging himself using a sheet and a window at Souza-Baranowski prison.

When State Police detectives lugged him from his big, beautiful house on June 26, 2013, Aaron Hernandez looked like a hulking, male version of the Venus de Milo.

KEVIN CULLEN

Aaron Hernandez: A life squandered

Hernandez?s life, and now his death, has become a window into and something of an indictment of what we value and idolize.

Bill O?Reilly of the Fox News Channel program ?The O?Reilly Factor.?

Ty Burr | COMMENTARY

The O?Reilly factor that mattered? Hypocrisy.

Bill O?Reilly has been relieved of his duties at Fox News because no one wants to buy a product that smells of swindle ? a product that says you, the buyer, have been fleeced.

Washington, D.C.-04/19/2017- The Superbowl Champions New England Patriots where guests for a ceremony at the White House with President Donald Trump. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff (sports)

The Boston Globe

Dan Shaughenssy

An unprecedented day in Boston sports history

On the day that Aaron Hernandez died, the Patriots were at the White House to visit a president who had seemed to make the team one of his campaign planks.

The Patriots attended a White House ceremony on Wednesday.

Boycott, Tom Brady?s absence undermine stagecraft of Patriots? White House visit

The president snubbed the superstar quarterback in turn by never mentioning his name or his phenomenal role in the Patriots? success.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/gronk1502-14193.jpg Gronk crashes Sean Spicer?s press briefing

?Need some help?? Rob Gronkowski asked, as journalists began laughing. ?I think I got this, but thank you,? Spicer replied with a smile.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/04/11/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/07302010_730oped_cityhall-7668709.jpg Almost 40 candidates sign up to seek city office in Boston

Mayor Walsh, who has been cruising on national prominence and millions of dollars in campaign cash, has four potential challengers as of Wednesday.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/01/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Grybus-BG-Waterville-1382A.jpg With $25m gift, Colby College aims for all its students to study abroad

The gift will allow Colby College?s 1,800 students to take unpaid internships in foreign locations.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/41a3f7a58cd145b8b8028310144ec20b-41a3f7a58cd145b8b8028310144ec20b-0.jpg ?Rattlesnake island? proposal is suspended after public response

The state?s Fish and Wildlife Board revoked the plan Wednesday during a public meeting.

Talking Points

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/01/27/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/turner071316BIZ14partners190-6368.jpg Partners acquires R.I. hospital, Rosengren predicts more stimulus

A roundup of the most important business news from Wednesday.

Tom Herde/ The Boston Globe

Boston library to return historical artifacts to Italy

The Boston Public Library is returning historical artifacts to Italy, some dating back 600 years.

Opinion & Ideas

Opinion | David Brooks

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/03/17/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/IMG_4792.jpg A thick connection between community and self

Some organizations are thick, and some are thin.

Trump Today

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/h1b-d723835e-253d-11e7-a1b3-faff0034e2de.jpg ?Glad to be of help? in Georgia congressional election

Welcome to Trump Today, a one-stop entry point for the latest news on the 45th president of the United States.

Special reports

Summer of ?67

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/06/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/jim.jpg The summer that changed Boston

The nation was splintering, and Boston wasn?t immune. But something was happening here.

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Address: Spring House Hunt

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/06/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/realestate.jpg Advice on taking real estate photos from a Pulitzer-winning photographer

In America, everyone who has a cellphone thinks they are a professional photographer. They are not.

Investigations

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/03/03/BostonGlobe.com/Foreign/Images/AFP_MB3WQ.jpg Documenting Hate: Submit an incident you know about

If you have been a victim or witnessed a hate incident, share your information here so we can investigate.

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/04/19/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/Teeth.jpg WATCH: Why can?t teeth heal themselves?

Getting a cavity is unpleasant ? and a painful reminder that teeth, unlike bones, can?t heal themselves once damaged.