ESPN released a trailer Tuesday for "Murder at The U," a seven-part investigative 30 for 30 Podcast series that premieres Feb. 12. The series arrives with former Miami player Rashaun Jones, a onetime teammate of Bryan Pata, set to go on trial beginning Feb. 9 in the 2006 killing.
12 years after the shocking murder of University of Miami football star Bryan Pata, ESPN reporters unearthed revelations that reignited the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of one of Pata’s former teammates, Rashaun Jones, who is now awaiting trial set to begin on… pic.twitter.com/eBkL477hVh
— 30 for 30 (@30for30) January 27, 2026
Pata, a Miami native and Hurricanes defensive lineman, was killed Nov. 7, 2006, after practice when he was shot outside his apartment complex. He was 22 and viewed as an NFL prospect at the time.
The series is hosted by ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne and includes reporting from ESPN's Dan Arruda and Scott Frankel. The first two episodes drop Feb. 12, with additional episodes released Tuesdays and Thursdays. A seventh and final episode is planned after the trial concludes, with its release date to be announced.
The case has lingered, and is a reminder of how quickly a player's life can be swallowed by something bigger than football. Pata wore No. 95 at Miami and played along the defensive front during a turbulent era for the program.
The case also became a flashpoint for questions about why the investigation stalled for so long. A team of ESPN journalists began reexamining the case about 11 years after Pata's death, tracking down witnesses and pursuing records, including through a lawsuit seeking unredacted files.
Lavigne said the reporting evolved from chasing answers about "who killed Pata" into examining "apparent missteps and missed opportunities" and holding investigators accountable.
Jones was arrested in 2021, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said investigators built their case through interviews, cellphone data and witness information, among other evidence. Prosecutors also alleged there had been ongoing issues between Pata and Jones before the shooting. Jones has maintained his innocence as the case has moved toward trial.
Nearly 20 years after Pata was killed, "Murder at The U" is positioned as both a true-crime listen and a Miami football reckoning, one that arrives right as a jury is expected to finally hear the case.