Imagine waiting for 15 years for a lead and ending up missing that. That’s exactly what happened with Hurricanes DL Bryan Pata, whose murder is finally not a complete mystery anymore. After Pata was shot and killed outside of his apartment in Kendall, Florida, in 2006, it took more than a decade to finally get a lead on his murder. And finally, in 2021, his teammate Rashaun Jones was arrested for this mishap. But now, years after digging into the roots of that night’s incident, the main witness against Jones died. Every hope was shattered until ESPN came in with a report that shifted the narrative completely.

So, as per reports, prosecutors made it pretty clear that the key witness against Rashaun Jones in the Bryan Pata murder case is dead. But when ESPN’s reporters knocked on the door of an apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, they got him alive. Crazy, right? It’s Paul Conner, 81, a writing instructor at the University of Miami. Now, after having a conversation with him, Conner made it clear that he’s not aware that anyone from Miami is looking for him, as he rarely leaves his apartment.

Getting back Paul Conner is nothing less than a miracle in this case, as he was a key piece in solving this case. As he’s the guy who heard a “pop” and saw someone running away after that. On top of that, he later identified Jones from a photo lineup with about “90 percent” certainty. Then he picked Jones out again in 2020 and said the same in 2022, providing deposition testimony in 2023. But one issue changed it all, and that’s his memory, as when ESPN talked to him in August, Conner admitted, “I’m getting up in years. My memory comes and goes. How long ago was this court case?” Now, that’s where the problem lies. As his memory issues might cast a shadow of doubt on the upcoming trial, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 6.

The worst part? Jones is already not guilty, but he’s in custody since his 2021 arrest, which took place nine months after ESPN’s reporting helped reopen the case. Now, the case totally relies on Conner’s testimony and claims that Jones even had a similar gun to the one used in the shooting, even though police never found the weapon. Now, these are just claims without any proof, and even the defense attorney showed her anger towards it.

That’s right. Sara Alvarez blasted the entire situation, saying, “I’m not shocked, but appalled. This is a bigger issue. This is just blatant lies. Bald-faced lies. It’s a shame, and it’s disgusting that you would be willing to send a man to prison for the rest of his life without any evidence and then not be honest about what evidence exists and doesn’t exist.” Alvarez plans to cross-examine Conner, focusing on contradictions in his statement. But what’s the real deal behind all this skepticism around Jones?

Allegations against Rashaun Jones in the Bryan Pata case

Losing Bryan Pata wasn’t just tough for Miami but for every fan who was waiting for him to go pro. And why wouldn’t they? During his four years with the Hurricanes, he played in 41 games and started 23. And 2007 was the year of his taking up the reins in the NFL, but destiny had other plans. So, what could this man have possibly done to end up in this situation?

ESPN dug pretty deep into the entire mess and found Rashaun Jones was the guy who once dated Bryan Pata’s girlfriend. Now, what makes him a prime suspect is the multiple disagreements between the two players. And the twist? Witnesses said some records prove that Jones wasn’t there in a mandatory team meeting after the shooting happened, and even changed his phone number that same day. These actions, with their history of conflict, brought Jones into the spotlight. And with Conner back in the case, things might turn differently.

But as the case progresses, Pata’s family is finally seeking the closure that they’ve been waiting for almost two decades now. As his brother, Edwin, said, “It’s good that we’re actually going to put it behind us. It’s constantly on our minds … we just got to be ready for it and know what to expect and be able to handle it.” Prosecutors previously offered Jones an 18-year plea deal, considering time served, but he rejected it. With the trial weeks away, let’s wait and see if the family can finally get their long-awaited closure or not.