Once Presumed Dead, Witness in Miami Football Player's Murder Trial Found in Louisville

Pardon me in advance. This is a little convoluted, but it’s a story worth retelling that involves the high-profile murder of a Miami football player from nearly two decades ago, and a key witness who lives in Louisville. Or did he once live in Louisville? Let me explain the situation.

Miami Football Player Accused of Murdering his Teammate

Bryan Pata was in the final chapter of his college football career. The talented Miami defensive tackle was expected to be taken in the 2007 NFL Draft. After a practice in November 2006, he was shot in the head outside of his apartment.

For years, the Miami-Dade Police Department remained quiet on the matter, revealing no suspects in the homicide investigation. Meanwhile, ESPN’s reporters did some digging. They learned that one of Pata’s Miami teammates, Rashaun Jones, was a suspect, and contacted him by phone in 2019.

“What happened 12 years ago, happened 12 years ago,” he said at the time. “It’s got nothing to do with me. … I didn’t do it.”

Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in August 2021. He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty.

Jones has remained in custody for four years awaiting trial, thanks to court delays and changes in attorneys. Weeks before the trial was set to begin, a new wrinkle was thrown in the case.

This 2006 photo shows the Miami Hurricanes football team praying at midfield, grieving the death of their teammate, Bryan Pata, who was fatally shot. In a twist 15 years later, Rashaun Jones, seen as number 38 in the photo, was charged with Pata's murder. pic.twitter.com/9D8gVbMf80

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) December 24, 2023

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Primary Witness Found Alive in Louisville

Paul Conner is a retired University of Miami writing instructor. He lived at the apartment complex where Pata was murdered. According to ESPN, he contacted police after the murder to report he heard a “pop” and saw someone jogging away from the scene.

Conner picked Jones out of a photo lineup back in 2006. He was reinterviewed in 2020 and once again picked Jones out of a lineup. He recorded his testimony in a bond hearing and in a 2023 deposition.

Prosecutors in the case reported in July shared in court that one of their key witnesses was dead. ESPN decided to see if that was the case. A reporter went to Louisville on Aug. 25, knocked on his door, and Conner answered. He was in fact not dead.

Here’s where things take another turn. Conner is now 81. He told ESPN during that conversation in Louisville that he does not recall what happened almost 20 years ago in Miami.

“I’m getting up in years,” he said. “My memory comes and goes. How long ago was this court case?”

Bryan Pata’s family was hoping to receive some resolution from this decades-long case. As the trial draws near, it’s only getting more complicated.

ESPN: Police said a key witness in the murder of Bryan Pata was dead. ESPN found him alive.