A suspect awaiting trial. A murder still unsolved. ESPN’s new 30 for 30 Podcast ‘Murder at The U’ reexamines the Bryan Pata case

ESPN today released Murder at The U, the newest installment in its acclaimed 30 for 30 Podcasts series. Hosted by ESPN Investigative Reporter Paula Lavigne, including reporting from ESPN’s Dan Arruda and Scott Frankel, the seven-part podcast unravels the true story behind one of college football’s darkest tragedies — the 2006 murder of University of Miami star Bryan Pata — the years-long pursuit of truth that followed, and the arrest of a former teammate now facing trial.

At just 22 years old, Pata was a senior defensive tackle for the Hurricanes and a top NFL prospect — a hometown hero with a seemingly unstoppable future. But one November night, after practice, his life was cut short when he was shot and killed outside his Miami apartment complex. The shocking crime sent tremors through the football world and left his family, teammates and an entire community demanding answers that never came.

Nearly 11 years later, a team of ESPN journalists began reexamining the long-stalled case — uncovering new evidence, tracking down forgotten witnesses, and ultimately helping bring the story back into the public eye. Their reporting, and a lawsuit against Miami police to open records, 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 February 9.

“Murder at the U” takes listeners inside the investigation — from the fractured legacy of the Hurricanes’ 2000s-era program to the relentless reporting that refused to let the truth stay buried.

“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,” said Paula Lavigne. “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.”

“Storytelling at this scale is rarely straightforward. Despite numerous obstacles and setbacks, our team remained committed to uncovering the truth and advancing the story, no matter where it led,” said Dan Arruda. “Through it all, we kept our focus on the Pata family and the ongoing grief they have endured for 19 years since Bryan’s murder. Ultimately, our hope is that this podcast honors Bryan’s legacy and brings the Pata family one step closer to healing.”

“This story – with its twists and turns, constant surprises, and unexpected revelations – has been a dream collaboration between investigation and audio,” said Preeti Varathan, ESPN Producer and Head of 30 for 30 Podcasts. “Through a wealth of archive and rich, transporting interviews, the listener truly gets to live in Bryan’s world and in the whirlwind and tragedy he left behind. This may be a series about what happened once Bryan Pata died, but in it, he is very much alive.”

The first two episodes of “Murder at The U” premiere on February 12, with subsequent episodes premiering on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Murder at The U” and all of ESPN’s 30 for 30 Podcasts can be found on ESPN.com, the ESPN App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeart and wherever podcasts are available.