Alexander Bradley is a name that most people only know because of a tragic, twisted association with one of the most infamous falls from grace in sports history. If you followed the Aaron Hernandez saga, you know the deal. Bradley was the "best friend" who became the star witness. He’s the guy who testified that the former New England Patriots tight end shot him in the face and left him for dead in an industrial park in Florida.
But the trials ended years ago. Hernandez is gone. The media circus packed up its tents and moved on to the next scandal. So, where is Alexander Bradley now?
Honestly, he hasn't exactly lived a quiet, suburban life since the cameras stopped rolling. His story didn't just end when he stepped off the witness stand in 2017. It’s been a chaotic mix of prison time, more violence, and a slow fade into a very different kind of obscurity.
The witness who survived
To understand where he is today, you've gotta remember the sheer amount of trauma—and legal baggage—this guy was carrying. Bradley survived a gunshot wound to the head in February 2013. He lost his right eye. He went through grueling surgeries and then had to sit in a courtroom and stare down the man he claimed pulled the trigger.
Most people would try to disappear after that. Bradley couldn't.
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He was entangled in his own legal web. Even as he was testifying against Hernandez, Bradley was dealing with the fallout of a 2014 shooting at a Hartford, Connecticut, nightclub called Vevo Lounge. He allegedly opened fire into the club after getting into an argument. He didn't hit anyone, thankfully, but it landed him right back in the system.
In 2017, just as the Hernandez double-murder trial was wrapping up, Bradley was sentenced to five years in prison for that Hartford incident.
Life after the five-year sentence
Because Bradley was sentenced in early 2017, he spent the better part of the late 2010s behind bars. He was serving time for criminal possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. While he was locked up, the world moved on.
He was eventually released from the Connecticut Department of Corrections after serving his time. But "freedom" for Bradley hasn't meant a total escape from the shadows of his past.
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Where is Alexander Bradley now? As of 2026, he is a private citizen living back in the Connecticut area, but he remains a figure of intense interest for true crime buffs and those still dissecting the Hernandez case. He’s managed to stay mostly out of the headlines since his release, which is probably the first time in a decade he hasn't been under a microscope.
He’s roughly 43 years old now.
Why we still talk about him
It’s weird, right? We usually forget the side characters in these cases. But Bradley is different because he was the only person who truly seemed to know what was going on in Aaron Hernandez's head.
- The Florida Lawsuit: He settled a civil suit against Hernandez’s estate years ago. The money? Nobody knows the exact amount, but it was meant to cover the loss of his eye and the mountain of medical bills.
- The Immunity Deals: He only testified because he was given immunity for his role in the 2012 double murder in Boston (where he was the driver).
- The Reputation: In his hometown of Hartford, Bradley was known long before Hernandez as a guy with a "tough" reputation. That hasn't necessarily changed.
The reality of his current life
Living as Alexander Bradley in 2026 isn't easy. You can’t exactly walk into a job interview and hope they don't Google you. His face—specifically the injury to his eye—is a permanent reminder of that night in Florida.
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There have been rumors of him working on book deals or participating in more documentaries, but nothing has materialized into a major "comeback" or a public apology tour. He seems content—or perhaps forced—to live a much lower-profile existence than he did during the years he was hanging out in VIP sections with NFL stars.
People often ask if he’s still "in the life." While there haven't been major reports of new arrests in the last couple of years, the patterns of his past suggest someone who has always struggled to stay on the right side of the law.
What happened to the money?
A lot of people think Bradley got rich from the Hernandez settlement. While he did get a payout, a huge chunk of that usually goes to legal fees and medical debts. Plus, living for years in and out of the legal system is expensive. He isn't living a life of luxury. He’s a guy who survived a bullet to the brain and a decade of legal warfare. That takes a toll.
Moving forward
If you’re looking for a redemptive arc, you might be disappointed. Alexander Bradley’s story is a gritty one. It’s a story about the collateral damage of being close to a "ticking time bomb" like Hernandez.
He’s currently living his life as a civilian in the Northeast. He’s likely still dealing with the physical and psychological effects of his injuries. The best thing anyone can do is look at his story as a cautionary tale of how quickly life can spiral when you're running in the wrong circles.
Actionable Insights:
- Check the records: If you’re researching his legal history, look into Connecticut’s judicial branch website for public records on his 2014 case.
- Watch the documentaries: For a better visual of his testimony, the Netflix documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez gives the most vivid look at how he presented himself in court.
- Look for updates: Keep an eye on local Hartford news outlets, as that is where he typically surfaces if there is any new development in his life.