Synthetic marijuana 'K2' found in Aaron Hernandez's body following autopsy after his shocking suicide

  • Aaron Hernandez's autopsy revealed synthetic marijuana in his kidney stream
  • The former NFL player hanged himself in his jail cell on Wednesday
  • The revelation has spurred a drug raid at the SBCC prison in Massachusetts
  • The 'K2' synthetic marijuana is reportedly easy to smuggle into prisons because it can be absorbed in paper and mailed in an envelope  

By Anna Hopkins For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:30 EDT, 26 April 2017 | Updated: 14:25 EDT, 26 April 2017

The body of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez reportedly tested positive for synthetic marijuana, an autopsy following his jailhouse suicide revealed.

Traces of K2 were found in Hernandez's kidney stream after he hung himself in his cell just before dawn on Wednesday at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC) in Shirley, Massachusetts. 

His alleged drug consumption has prompted a massive raid at the facility,  and dozens of state police officers have reportedly been searching inmates for contraband.

The body of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez reportedly tested positive for synthetic marijuana, an autopsy following his jailhouse suicide revealed

The body of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez reportedly tested positive for synthetic marijuana, an autopsy following his jailhouse suicide revealed

K2 is relatively easy to smuggle into prisons, as it can be soaked into paper and mailed under the guise of a letter, Newsweek reported.

K2 is relatively easy to smuggle into prisons, as it can be soaked into paper and mailed under the guise of a letter

K2 is relatively easy to smuggle into prisons, as it can be soaked into paper and mailed under the guise of a letter

Two law enforcement sources said that there has been a 'shakedown' at a warehouse used by SBCC and a neighboring facility, which serves as a holding place for dry goods before they enter the facilities. Inmates and prison staff both are employed at the warehouse.

An investigation at the prison following Hernandez's death has led to the paid suspension of at least one prison official, who reportedly missed his 2am round roughly an hour before the former Patriot's body was discovered.

Inmates reportedly told investigators that they believed Hernandez was high on K2 at the time he died. 

The drug is known to be harmful and has caused thousands of hospitalizations from overdoses since its creation.  

Aaron Hernandez
In April 2015, Hernandez (above) was convicted for shooting and killing Lloyd, a semi-professional football player, on June 17, 2013 

His death came just five days after he was acquitted in a separate double-murder convicted connected to a drive-by shooting in 2012. His death came on the same day his former teammates visited the White House after winning their fifth Super Bowl

However, his suicide did not appear impulsive or drug induced, as the DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that he had planned his own death weeks in advance.

The former football star gave away most of his personal belongings to fellow inmates and covered the floor of his cell in soap, so that he wouldn't be able to land firmly on his feet if he lost his nerve.

Five days earlier, he had been acquitted in a separate double-murder convicted connected to a drive-by shooting in 2012. His death came on the same day his former teammates visited the White House after winning their fifth Super Bowl.

The former football star gave away most of his personal belongings to fellow inmates and covered the floor of his cell in soap, so that he wouldn't be able to land firmly on his feet if he lost his nerve. Seen here is a SBCC jail cell in a file photo

The former football star gave away most of his personal belongings to fellow inmates and covered the floor of his cell in soap, so that he wouldn't be able to land firmly on his feet if he lost his nerve. Seen here is a SBCC jail cell in a file photo

He also jammed the door of his cell with cardboard to prevent guards from coming in to rescue him.

Hernandez wrote suicide notes to his fiancee, daughter, and his prison lover Kyle Kennedy, who was put on suicide watch after his death. The notes were tucked next to a Bible that was opened to verse 3:17 - the words of which were also written on his forehead in red ink.

Kennedy, 22, is serving 3-5 years for armed robbery. Hernandez reportedly requested to be housed with Kennedy in his cell, but was denied.

Kyle Kennedy was the last person to see the former New England Patriot alive and was put on suicide watch inside maximum security Souza-Baranowski Corrections Center following his death 

Kyle Kennedy was the last person to see the former New England Patriot alive and was put on suicide watch inside maximum security Souza-Baranowski Corrections Center following his death 

It has been speculated that Hernandez's sexual orientation may have been a motive for his murder of his Odin Loyd, for which he was imprisoned.  

In April 2015, Hernandez was convicted for shooting and killing Lloyd, a semi-professional football player, on June 17, 2013.

Lloyd may have known that Hernandez was carrying on an affair with a male friend who was forced to testify before the grand jury in the Lloyd case. 

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