Second Man Arrested in Hernandez Case: Carlos Ortiz
Authorities have arrested a second man in Connecticut in connection to the Aaron Hernandez case involving the murder of a 27-year-old Boston man.
Police took in Carlos Ortiz, also 27, on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear in court July 23. In the meantime, allegations against Ortiz were not released. New Britain State's Attorney Brian Preleski says Ortiz was charged as a fugitive from justice and has waived extradition to Massachusetts.
Former New England Patriot tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday. He was accused of leading an attack, with two accomplices, against 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. Hernandez plead not guilty to charges of murder and five additional firearms charges.
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Ortiz was arrested in Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Conn. where the tight end had allegedly belonged to a neighborhood gang, according to TMZ. The player was attempting to break ties with his past for over a year, but unsuccessfully, according to the report.
"Aaron believed people in the gangster world felt Aaron owed them something ... but it wasn't all about money -- they wanted his time and respect," the celebretiy entertainment site reported.
Sources reported that Hernandez had become "paranoid" leading up to the murder. The player feared "people from his 'old lifestyle' were trying to kill him."
Police charged Hernandez with being a key player in Lloyd's death.
"He orchestrated the crime from the beginning and took steps to conceal and destroy evidence," prosecutors said.
Lloyd sent a text message to a family member after Hernandez and his two men picked him up stating that he was with the former NFL player.
"Just so you know," one of the text messages said, according to prosecutors.
Lawyers for Hernandez have stated that the evidence against their client is "circumstantial" and that it is "not a strong case."
