The FX/Hulu seriesAmerican Sports Storydepicts Tanya Singleton, Aaron Hernandez’s real-life cousin. Josh Rivera leads theAmerican Sports StorycastasAaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight endwho was convicted ofmurdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloydin 2015. Thefirst two episodes ofAmerican Sports Storycapture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010.American Sports Storyportrays several NFL players and coachesincluding Hernandez.
Tanya Singleton is a key supporting character inAmerican Sports Storywho had a big impact on Hernandez’s life. AfterHernandez’s father Dennis diedwhen he was still in high school, Hernadez’s mother Terri had an affair with Tanya’s husband, Jeff Cummings. Once Singleton and Aaron found out, the future NFL star spent much more time at Tanya’s house instead of hanging out at home with his mom.It was at Tanya Singleton’s house where Hernandez first met Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, who would eventually be charged with accessory to murder after the fact after Hernandez was convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd, the boyfriend of Hernandez’s girlfriend Shayanna Jenkins' sister.
New episodes ofAmerican Sports Storyair every Tuesday at 10 PM ET/ PT on FX before streaming on Hulu.
Tanya Singleton Pleaded Guilty To Criminal Contempt
Singleton refused to testify against Hernandez despite being offered immunity
Despite being offered immunity, Singleton took on the charges of criminal contempt and was jailed for a total of 196 days before posting bail in early 2014.
Tanya Singleton pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in August 2013 after refusing to testify in front of a grand jury during the murder trial of Odin Lloyd. Even thoughSingleton was offered immunity in exchange for her testimony, she refused. She was imprisoned on June 24, 2025, a little over a month after Aaron Hernandez was arrested on first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors believed Singleton to be a key witness who would help build a solid case against Hernandez despite the overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence against him, including matching DNA, footprints, and shell cases found where Lloyd’s body was discovered.
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Despite being offered immunity, Singleton took on the charges of criminal contempt and was jailed for a total of 196 days before posting bail in early 2014. According toSports Illustrated, “Singleton pleaded not guilty to a separate charge in the Lloyd case after prosecutors alleged she helped two of Hernandez' alleged accomplices escape Massachusetts, the state where Hernandez allegedly shot Lloyd.” Additionally, Singleton also faced another criminal contempt charge for refusing to testify againstHernandez in a double homicide casethat took place in Boston, which was referenced in the first episode ofAmerican Sports Story. Authorities founda vehicle seen at the location of the double homicide in Singleton’s garage.
Tanya Singleton Avoided Jail Time Due To Her Poor Health
She was sentenced to probation and home confinement due to advanced breast cancer
Singleton was one of the most loyal family members to Aaron Hernandez throughout his murder trial and his entire life.
Ultimately, Singleton was able to avoid additional jail time after posting bail due to her advanced breast cancer diagnosis. In August 2014, Fall River Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garshsentenced Singleton to two years probation and one year of home confinementbut made it clear that “Ms. Singleton’s health is the only reason she is not being placed in jail” because the county jail could not support her breast cancer treatment. According toMassachusetts State Law, a criminal contempt charge cannot exceed 3 months of imprisonment and a fine of $2,000, which Singleton had already exceeded during her 6.5 months waiting for her sentence.
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Singleton was one of the most loyal family members to Aaron Hernandez throughout his murder trial and his entire life. While never confirmed by Singleton herself, it’s possible that she was aware of her advanced cancer diagnosis and used that to her advantage to assist Aaron, perhaps counting on the fact that her poor health would help her avoid a lengthy jail sentence in the first place. It’s also entirely plausible that Singleton would have spent however many days behind bars she needed to protect Aaron as a demonstration of her unwavering support. Avery S. Bradley, who testified against Hernandez in the 2017 double homicide case,claimed that Singleton knowingly hid the Toyota 4Runner at Aaron’s request.
Tanya Singleton Died In October 2015 After Battling Cancer
Hernandez was acquitted in the 2017 double homicide case
Singleton would ultimately have been unable to testify against Hernandez in the 2017 double homicide trial of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. She died in October 2015, roughly six months after Hernandez was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in April 2015. It wasnever discovered how the Toyota 4Runner seen at the scene of the crime ended up in Singleton’s garagein the 2017 double homicide trial. Hernandez, who was represented by celebrity attorney Jose Baez, the attorney who famously defended Casey Anthony in 2011, was found not guilty on both counts. Singleton’s loyalty and battle with cancer are dramatized inAmerican Sports Story.
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American Sports Story
Cast
American Sports Story is a TV show from Stu Zicherman and executive produced by Ryan Murphy. The series stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow. The sports anthology series serves as the fourth installment in Murphy’s “American Story” franchise.
