Key Witness in Miami Football Murder Case Found Alive, Altering 2006 Pata Investigation

MIAMI — Prosecutors in Florida on Friday confirmed that a key eyewitness in the 2006 murder of University of Miami football player Bryan Pata is alive, a development that could reshape the pending case against Pata's teammate, Rashaun Jones.

81-year-old Paul Conner, who was identified as the sole eyewitness in the slaying, had been believed dead as recently as mid-July, prosecutors said. The revelation comes after ESPN published findings indicating Conner is living in Louisville, Kentucky.

An ESPN investigation found Conner at his address, answering the door when reporters knocked. He told ESPN he was unaware of attempts by Miami investigators to contact him and appeared unfamiliar with how to check voicemail. Conner, who is now retired, previously worked as a writing instructor at the University of Miami and lived in the same apartment complex as Pata. He reported hearing a “pop” and seeing someone jog away from the parking lot entrance on the night of the shooting, and he spoke to police multiple times shortly after the incident and on subsequent occasions.

Bryan Pata was killed in 2006 during a confrontation with teammates and friends in Coral Gables. His former teammate, Rashaun Jones, 38, has been the prime suspect since 2021 and remains jailed while awaiting trial after failing to post bail. Jones has pleaded not guilty. The case has hinged in part on Conner’s testimony, which prosecutors previously relied on in four proceedings—two interviews soon after the shooting, a 2020 re-interview, and a 2022 bond hearing, as well as a 2023 deposition. In those earlier proceedings, Conner identified Jones in a photo lineup.

During a Friday hearing, Miami Assistant State Attorney Cristina Diamond told Judge Cristina Miranda about the state’s databases showing attempts to locate Conner and the ensuing contact with Louisville police. The court accepted the efforts and ruled that Conner’s prior testimony—if deemed admissible—could be used at trial even if he later proves incompetent. If Conner cannot testify, the court may still rely on his earlier statements.

Jones’s attorney, Sara Alvarez, told ESPN she was not shocked by the development but said it was “appalling” and questioned the integrity of the process. Alvarez had filed a motion to dismiss Conner’s earlier testimony on grounds of potential misrepresentation, a request denied by the court. The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 6.

The unfolding situation has drawn attention to the health considerations involved in aging witnesses and the reliability of memory over nearly two decades. Experts note that memory can be imperfect, particularly for someone in an older age group, and health factors can complicate the evaluation of a key witness’s testimony. The case remains one of Florida’s most closely watched criminal proceedings, as prosecutors and defense teams navigate a long-running dispute over evidence, credibility, and fairness.