Some say he was 'suicide-d'..

Former New England Patriots star and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his cell Wednesday morning, prison officials say.

Personnel at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts, say that Hernandez — who was serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Odin L. Lloyd in 2013 — discovered his body at about 3:05 a.m. on Wednesday.

CNN reports that authorities have confirmed that the former tight end committed suicide, hanging himself with a bed sheet.

MORE: Aaron Hernandez was found hanging in his cell shortly after 3 a.m. ET, officials say https://t.co/Zc4jmmgFdR pic.twitter.com/7mSDAHgrKb

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 19, 2017

A statement released by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections notes that “lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez,” but that he was soon pronounced dead:

Mr. Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit. Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window. Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.

The Massachusetts State Police are on scene and the investigation continues. Mr. Hernandez’s next of kin have been notified.

Officials add that he was in a single unit and was not on suicide watch, adding that “he would have not been in that unit” if he has made any indication that he intended to harm himself.

His death comes on the heels of his acquittal for the 2012 double murder of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, a decision that moved him to tears in court on Friday.