New England Patriots

Fiancee: Aaron Hernandez thought he was going to be freed

Published May. 12, 2017 9:19 a.m. ET

BOSTON (AP) Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez sounded as if he thought he would soon be freed in his last conversation with his fiancee before he killed himself.

Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez says in an interview on ''Dr. Phil'' scheduled to air next week that he said ''Daddy's going to be home ... I can't wait to hold you and love you'' in a telephone conversation hours before he was found hanged in his prison cell on April 19.

He had been acquitted in a double murder trial days before, but was still serving a life sentence in another murder case.

The show's host, Dr. Phillip McGraw told NBC's ''Today'' show on Friday that Jenkins-Hernandez does not believe the former New England Patriots player killed himself, despite the evidence.

McGraw also said Jenkins-Hernandez is not expecting any financial benefit from the death.