OJ Simpson, who was famously acquitted of the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994, has died at 76.
The news was shared Thursday morning in a statement released by his family.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” reads the statement.
“During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
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Born on July 9, 1947, OJ Simpon played 11 seasons (1969 to 1979) in the National Football League (NFL) and is often regarded as as one of the greatest running backs of all time.
Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The following trial, often referred to as the Trial of the century, saw Simpson get acquitted after 11 month long of legal battle.
Three years later, he found liable for the deaths of Brown and Goldman in a civil suit filed by the victims’ families. Simpson was ordered to pay $33.5M in damages to the respective families.
In 2007, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison, but was later granted parole in the summer of 2017 before being released from prison in October that same year.