Aaron Hernandez committed suicide in his prison cell Tuesday night by hanging himself with a bed sheet.

The ex-New England Patriot was acquitted of a double murder last week.  But he was still looking at life in prison because of his 2015 first degree murder conviction in the killing of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd.

"Mr. Hernandez hanged himself utilizing a bed sheet that he attached to his cell window," said a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. "Mr. Hernandez also attempted to block his door from the inside by jamming the door with various items."

Hernandez's lawyer Jose Baez believes his client may have been murdered, either by other inmates or prison officials.  He plans to launch an investigation.