Prosecutors have believed that Shayanna Jenkins, the fiancee of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, engaged in “overt attempts to hide evidence . . . and to hinder and mislead” their investigation into the murder of Odin Lloyd.
A grand jury now agrees. Via the Boston Globe, Jenkins has been indicted for perjury.
The grand jury also indicted Hernandez’s cousin, Tanya Singleton, on charges of conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact. She had been jailed on contempt of court charges after refusing to testify before the grand jury.
Carlos Ortiz, who previously faced weapons charges, has been indicted as an accessory after the fact. The weapons charges have been dropped.
The charge against Jenkins means that she lied under oath. Which likely means that prosecutors believe she lied when testifying before the grand jury.
The news charges will serve to put increased pressure on persons who have collateral roles in the case, with the hope that someone will provide clear and persuasive testimony or evidence that can be used to convict Hernandez for murder.