On one quiet evening in Miami, a rising school football star had his life lower quick in a murder that despatched shockwaves by means of town.
Just months earlier than he was anticipated to be chosen in the NFL draft, University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was tragically gunned down on Nov. 7, 2006, leaving his household, buddies and teammates searching for solutions for almost twenty years.
“I’ll think back how we used to spend our times together…all the good stuff. But you think, ‘Oh, man. He’s not here anymore.’ That’s when the tears flow,” Pata’s sister Ronette Pata advised “20/20.”
A brand new “20/20” episode, “Murder at the U” airing Friday, March 6, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the subsequent day on Disney+ and Hulu, examines the case.
You also can get extra behind-the-scenes of every week’s episode by listening to “20/20: The After Show” weekly collection proper in your 20/20 podcast feed on Mondays, hosted by “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts.
The 22-year-old had simply arrived residence after football observe when he was shot in the head after exiting his car, based on authorities.
Bryan Pata, the University of Miami defensive lineman who was killed in 2006, is pictured right here together with his mom.
Courtesy of Ronette Pata
Dwayne Hendricks, who stated he pulled into the house complicated shortly after Pata did and located him in a pool of blood, stated he was the one who known as Pata’s household to ship the information.
“I tell people to this day, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. It was to call his mom and say that her youngest is dead,” Hendricks — a teammate and roommate of Pata — recalled as he delivered his testimony in courtroom years later.
Dave Howell, Pata’s teammate on the Miami Hurricanes, remembered his charisma and management throughout the group.
“His aura. It just stuck out,” Howell advised “20/20.” “He always gets everybody to kind of gravitate towards him.”
Pata’s teammate Dave Howell remembered his buddy in an interview with “20/20.”
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Investigators started searching for suspects and found that Pata reportedly had points with a teammate named Rashaun Jones, who, it was later found, was the one participant to not attend a compulsory group assembly the evening that Pata was killed.
Pata’s teammates advised investigators the 2 had beforehand bodily fought and Jones had threatened Pata. It was additionally rumored that Jones had as soon as been romantically concerned with Pata’s girlfriend, Jada Brody.
However, Pata’s case went quiet for 15 years, till an in-depth ESPN article on the investigation helped re-ignite curiosity in the case. Pata’s brother Edwin expressed gratitude for the sports outlet’s reporting.
“I believe one of the catalysts was the ESPN article that came out. I think that was part of it. I think also the state prosecutor also getting a little more aggressive and being much more aggressive in his approach towards arresting someone,” Edwin Pata advised “20/20.”
In an interview with “20/20,” Pata’s household remembered him as a sort and uplifting chief on and off the football area.
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Jones was subsequently arrested in 2021 for second-degree murder. Police cited his cellphone data and an alleged eyewitness as vital items of proof they stated tied him to the crime.
While detained, Jones advised police he had a tempestuous affiliation with Pata.
“I mean, we had an up-and-down relationship,” Jones stated. “We was teammates. I guess females got involved. So it was, I don’t know, I guess jealousy over females.”
Investigators found that on the morning of Pata’s murder, Jones was suspended from the University of Miami football group after testing constructive for marijuana for the second time. He additionally modified his telephone quantity earlier that day, they stated.
However, Jones maintained his innocence, insisting he had nothing to do with Pata’s killing.
“I used to be young and wild … that ain’t got nothing to do with picking up no gun, trying to kill nobody, harm nobody with it. That’s not in me,” Jones advised police.
Jones pleaded not responsible, and subsequently sat in jail for 4 and a half years awaiting trial on account of being unable to afford bail. The trial lastly started in February. The prosecution sought to construct a case towards Jones primarily based upon his conflicts with Pata and the alleged eyewitness who investigators claimed positioned him on the scene of the crime.
Rashaun Jones appeared in courtroom throughout his second-degree murder trial in the 2006 killing of Bryan Pata.Rashaun Jones appeared in courtroom throughout his second-degree murder trial in the 2006 killing of Bryan Pata.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald
The protection countered that police by no means actually handled Jones like a suspect or convey Jones in for a sworn assertion for greater than 15 years.
However on Monday, after two weeks of testimony, the choose in the case declared a mistrial because the six-person jury remained deadlocked over a verdict. When polled, one of many jurors advised “20/20” that 5 members have been in favor of acquittal, with one holdout for conviction.
The state lawyer signaled they intend to maneuver ahead with making an attempt Jones once more later this spring.
Jones’ lawyer Sara Alvarez stated that he refused a plea deal to maintain combating for his innocence.
“Mr. Jones continues to be presumed innocent, and we will be back to fight this again at the next trial,” Alvarez stated.
As the authorized battle over his murder continues twenty years after his loss of life, Pata’s household nonetheless bear in mind his heat.
Edwin Pata advised “20/20” that his brother lit up each room he walked into.
“Full of life, full of energy, positive energy. Someone who’s truly missed,” Edwin stated. “It’s still hard for us today.”
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