Aaron Hernandez's arrest and looming murder trail has gripped the nation, and he's part of a surprisingly long list of athletes who have been charged with murder.

Star sportsmen such as ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, former New Jersey Nets player Jayson Williams and Olympian Oscar Pistorious have all been on the wrong side of the law for murder charges.

Many professional athletes hail from poverty-stricken neighborhoods across America, areas where young, mostly black and Latino, men are drawn to sports, hip-hop music and crime as a way to escape poverty. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that some professional athletes who hail from these environments have struggled to escape the crime and violence that surrounded them before they became stars. But there are also athletes with seemingly auspicious backgrounds who have also been arraigned for murder.

Hernandez was formally charged with first-degree murder in the Attleboro District Court on Jun 26. Federal prosecutors said the ex-NFL tight end killed his former associate Lloyd because he feared his alleged victim would divulge information about a double homicide in Boston. Hernandez is also being investigated for his possible role in the Boston murders.

Check out the slideshow for a list of other athletes who have been charged with murder.

Tags
Aaron Hernandez