Murder at The U

In 2006, Bryan Pata was a senior defensive tackle for the University of Miami with a bright future ahead of him. The NFL was right around the corner, and he was months away from being able to buy his mom a house. Instead, one night in early November, Bryan was shot dead outside his apartment complex coming home from practice. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, Murder at The U tells the story of the shocking, high-profile murder that rocked the college football world and what happened when a team of ESPN reporters tried to get to the bottom of who killed Pata. Now, a suspect has emerged—who is headed to trial—and he is none other than one of Pata's teammates. Episodes drop Tuesdays and Thursdays starting 2/12.

Last refreshed: May 28th, 2026 at 12:38 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Another Update

The State of Florida will re-try Rashaun Jones for the murder of Bryan Pata in September instead of in May as was originally planned. We are continuing to follow this story and will be back with more around the time of the re-trial. In the meantime, go to ESPN.com for additional coverage. Thank you for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 28, 2026•44 sec

An Update

In May, the State of Florida will re-try Rashaun Jones for the murder of Bryan Pata. After that, we’ll be back with a bonus episode - hopefully with an end to this story. So stay tuned and thank you for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 25, 2026•47 sec

Gut Feeling

The State of Florida v. Rashaun Jones gets underway but nothing goes according to plan. After the trial, a juror talks and Paula learns what happened inside a heated deliberation room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 2026•50 min•Ep. 7

The Missing Piece

This episode delves into the arrest of Rashawn Jones for the 2006 murder of Brian Patta, following ESPN's investigative report. It explores Rashawn's interrogation and denials, the unreliability of a key eyewitness who was later found alive after being declared dead by the prosecution, and a jailhouse informant's alleged confession. The case becomes further complicated by the exposure of the lead prosecutor's history of manipulating witness testimony, raising significant questions about the integrity of the evidence and the pursuit of justice.

Feb 26, 2026•55 min•Ep. 6

Open and Active

A dozen years after Brian Pata's murder, his family's frustration mounts as police make no arrests despite an informant naming Rashawn Jones early on. ESPN's investigation reveals police denials, significant errors in evidence collection, and a decade of inactivity in the case. A lawsuit forces police to reveal under oath that they've long had a prime suspect and were close to an arrest, contradicting years of deflection and exposing their lies, ultimately setting the stage for a potential breakthrough.

Feb 24, 2026•39 min•Ep. 5

The Teammate

The night of Bryan’s murder, one other player failed to show up for the mandatory team meeting. From there, rumors began to swirl. Could that teammate have killed Bryan? His family seems to think so, but some coaches and players aren’t so sure. Over ten years later, Paula and the team dig into the mountain of circumstantial evidence pointing the police towards Rashaun Jones. But with no physical evidence linking Rashaun to the crime, the team begins to wonder: is Rashaun guilty or did he fall vi...

Feb 19, 2026•50 min•Ep. 4

Everybody’s a Suspect

Following Brian Pata's murder, the reporting team delves into his life beyond football, revealing a long list of suspects, his lucrative classic car hobby, and a significant, uninvestigated cash flow. The episode highlights the challenges of an imperfect police investigation, including missed leads and heavily redacted reports. It also explores Brian's complex relationships with a prominent booster, Nevin Shapiro, a club owner named "Uncle" Sean Shinazi, and the founder of the Zo Pound street gang, Ollie Adam, all while examining his volatile relationship with girlfriend Jada Brody and her family.

Feb 17, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 3

An Execution

This episode delves into the 2006 murder of Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Brian Pata, exploring the immediate crime scene investigation and the team's tumultuous season. It uncovers a pervasive gun culture among players and a decline in team morale, including a violent on-field brawl. The episode also examines Brian's personal struggles, an impactful position change, and his final hours before the execution-style killing, revealing potential enemies and an ongoing mystery.

Feb 12, 2026•40 min•Ep. 2

Chillin’ with the Canes

In 2006, Bryan Pata – a football star at the University of Miami – was shot and killed outside his apartment. The death of a high-profile player from a major college football program was big news, but it didn’t lead to an arrest. But more than a decade later, the case found its way to a team of ESPN reporters. What they found was an exasperated family desperate for answers, a murder investigation that appeared to be cold (even though the police said it wasn’t), a legendary football program with ...

Feb 12, 2026•38 min•Ep. 1

Introducing: Murder at The U

In 2006, Bryan Pata was a senior defensive tackle for the University of Miami with a bright future ahead of him. The NFL was right around the corner, and he was months away from being able to buy his mom a house. Instead, one night in early November, Bryan was shot dead outside his apartment complex coming home from practice. From 30 for 30 Podcasts, Murder at The U tells the story of the shocking, high-profile murder investigation that rocked the college football world and what happened when a ...

Jan 26, 2026•2 min

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