Year: 2023

The Conflict with Aaron Hernandez’s Trust Fund and his Daughter’s Conservator

Aaron Hernandez was a tight end for the New England Patriots in 2013.  That year he was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a man dating his girlfriends sister.  As he awaited trial, he was charged in connection with the fatal drive-by shootings of Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu and Safiro Teixeira Furtado.

He was convicted of Lloyd’s murder and sentenced to life in prison; he was acquitted of the double homicide in April 2017 but days later was found dead by suicide in his prison cell. He was 27.

Hernandez’s daughter was the beneficiary of the former NFL player’s trust fund.  Currently Aaron Hernandez‘s fiancée is facing questions about how she’s using the money.

Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, Aaron’s fiancé at the time of his death,  had requested reimbursement from the trust fund to a court-appointed trustee.  She said the expenses were for their daughter Avielle. The trustee, attorney David Schwartz, replied to the motion and objected to the request.

“The Trustee understands that providing for Avielle includes expenses related to her household, but the expenditures from her late father’s NFL pension and Social Security benefits merit investigation for their reasonableness…” the filing asserts.

The filing includes examples of the expenses in question, including $17,000 in clothing, $10,000 in both entertainment expenses and online shopping, thousands in “self-care” costs, and $12,000 spent at HomeGoods.

The disagreement between Jenkins-Hernandez and Schwartz began in September after Jenkins-Hernandez asked for $10,000 from the trust to cover the cost of Avielle’s competitive dance lessons. Schwartz denied the request.  He argued the fact that about $150,000 in funds is given to Jenkins-Hernandez every year for Avielle’s daily expenses, .  Schwartz has requested that Jenkins-Hernandez be removed as Avielle’s  conservator.

Jenkins-Hernandez has responded with her own request that Schwartz be removed and replaced as the trustee.

This back and forth basically amounts to Schwartz accusing Jenkins-Hernandez of misusing the funds intended for Hernandez’s daughter. 

These types of situations are not uncommon.  Being trustee and being responsible for handing out money for a child’s benefit can get contentious when a trustee and parent or conservator do not agree.  Even though accountings are prepared, they can be vague and disagreements on the use of money can arise.

Here are Hornstein Law we have seen different types of situations and can help depending on the circumstances.  Give our office a call 818.887.9401.