Aaron Hernandez's Family Planning Private Funeral in Connecticut

A private funeral will be held for Aaron Hernandez in Bristol, Connecticut, on Monday, according to the Associated Press. 

"The family of Aaron Hernandez wishes to thank all of you for the thoughtful expressions of condolences," Hernandez's family said in a statement Saturday, per ESPN.com news services. "We wish to say goodbye to Aaron in a private ceremony and thank everyone in advance for affording us a measure of privacy during this difficult time."

Hernandez, 27, was found hanged in his cell Wednesday at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts. His death was later ruled a suicide. 

Hernandez had been serving a life sentence without parole after he was convicted of killing semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. Five days before his death, Hernandez was found not guilty in the 2012 drive-by murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.