Victim in case involving Hernandez is sixth dead member of semi-pro team
Odin Lloyd is the man at the center of the drama surrounding Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. Lloyd’s body was reportedly found in an industrial area of North Attleboro, Mass. on Monday, triggering an investigation that has involved Hernandez. However, who was Lloyd? The 27-year-old Dorchester resident was a member of the Boston Bandits, a semi-professional team based in the area. What’s odd is the Bandits aren’t strangers to tragedy, as Lloyd would be the sixth member or former member of the team to have died within the last 11 years. The first, Derrick Rucker, died in an electrical fire back in 2002. Four years later, Bandits rookie Jeff Ibenewenka was murdered in Hyde Park. His killer was later sentenced to life without parole. Jason Mitchell died in 2008 from undisclosed reasons before Cedric Warren was killed in a car accident that same year. Brent Smith died in his sleep in December of 2009. Lloyd has reportedly joined that list. Current Bandits coach Olivier Bustin and the team could not be reached for comment. Lloyd’s family told WBZ-TV that he dated the sister of Hernandez’s girlfriend. The TV station also interviewed the man who discovered Lloyd’s body. “He was stiff, motionless, one of the police officers came back later and said it looked the guy had been shot somewhere else and dumped here,” the man said. Questions? Comments? Send them to lacesoutmail@gmail.com and we might respond in our weekly mailbag!
