A new ESPN podcast reopens the investigation into the 2006 killing of University of Miami player Bryan Pata.
“Murder at The U” is the latest series from ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts, with the first two episodes now available and further instalments released on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Hosted by ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne, the seven-part series examines the unsolved murder of Pata, a senior defensive tackle for the Hurricanes and a top NFL prospect, who was shot and killed outside his Miami apartment complex in November 2006. He was 22.
The case remained unresolved for years. Nearly 11 years later, a team of ESPN journalists reopened the investigation, uncovering new evidence and identifying witnesses who had not previously come forward. Their reporting, alongside a lawsuit against Miami police to access records, brought renewed attention to the case.
That renewed scrutiny ultimately led to the arrest of former teammate Rashaun Jones, who is awaiting trial which began on 9 February.
Paula said: “Our journey with this story went from possibly finding out more about who killed Pata to figuring out why the Miami-Dade Police Department wasn’t able to make an arrest.
We found a series of apparent missteps and missed opportunities, and we wanted to hold the investigators accountable. What happened as a result of our reporting was something completely unexpected.”
Dan Arruda, who reported on the series alongside Scott Frankel, added: “Despite numerous obstacles and setbacks, our team remained committed to uncovering the truth and advancing the story, no matter where it led.”
Preeti Varathan, ESPN Producer and Head of 30 for 30 Podcasts, said the collaboration between investigative and audio teams allowed the story to be told with archive material and interviews that place listeners at the centre of events.
The series explores both the original crime and the journalistic efforts that helped bring it back into focus, nearly two decades after Pata’s death.
