BONUS: Murder At The U Episode 1
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What is the story behind Brian Pata's murder?
Hey listeners, you're about to hear the first episode of a new series from ESPN's 30 for 30 podcasts, Murder at the U. You may remember that we spoke about this series with the host and lead investigator, Paula Levine, on our show last week. This is the story of how Canes football standout, Brian Pata, was gunned down in broad daylight, just steps from campus, and how his murder went unsolved for nearly 20 years. But a suspect was finally identified. a former teammate was accused of Pata's murder. Murder at the U examines how a team of dogged ESPN reporters revived Bryant's dormant case and why the search for justice continues. If you want to listen to the rest of this series, follow 30 for 30 podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
Now, episode one of Murder at the U.
It's 2006. Two guys in their 20s are driving down US 1 in Miami in a black Infiniti SUV. The AC's blasting, the music is blasting. We on our way to my crib. The driver is a football player at the University of Miami, Brian Pata. The guy next to him in the passenger seat is a sports writer from the Miami Herald. His name is Manny Navarro. Manny has his camera trained on Brian. I was a young reporter who wanted to do something cool. MTV Cribs was sort of big back then. MTV Cribs was a show where celebrities led camera crews through tours of their houses. Manny wanted to make something similar for the Miami Herald. But in Manny's version, the celebrities would be University of Miami football players, the Hurricanes.
So my idea was just make these guys personable, tell a story that is unique in Miami. These are Miami guys playing for Miami football program. Brian was really the first guy I threw the idea across. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm down, I'm down, let's do it, let's do it. And you know, I got the camera on him, because I want to make sure I get the audio and the video, you know, the whole thing. The two guys head to Brian's apartment complex. It's called The Colony, where several other University of Miami players live. It's classic Florida, with corridors on the outside of the building, like a motel. We get to his apartment. He runs in there. He starts picking stuff up, moving stuff around. He's like, don't record yet.
And he says, how do you want me to, where do you want to start? I said, well, why don't you open the door? This is what they do in MTV Cribs, right? They open the door. They welcome you in. What up, y'all? This is my crib. I'm Bryan Pata, University of Miami, Divas of Tyco. If you walk in, this is a townhouse, two bedroom, two and a half bathroom. You know, he's kind of like giving me the tour, opening cabinets up and showing me stuff. This is my cabinet right here. I love pudding. He was just, he was so happy to kind of be the star of the show. You know, I think in his mind, I think he started to think, like, yeah, it's only the Miami Herald right now, but I could do this for MTV. Like, this is like a nice little practice run, you know?
Here's some of my family during the Florida State game. My two sisters, my cousin. This is my mom right here. And this is my girlfriend, Jada. I just remember the feeling of, this kid is so happy with his life. He knows that the best is yet to come. Like, this is good. Life is good. I got a girlfriend. I got a dog. Other than that, this is me, Ryan Pata. How are you getting there? All right.
How did Brian Pata's life and personality come to light?
Thanks a lot, man. We'll go downstairs real quick. All right. But it was sort of this feeling of things are going to get better. It seems that way, listening to the recording, hearing Brian's enthusiasm, his giddiness, except for one thing. A few weeks later, Brian Pata would be dead. We do have a breaking story. A University of Miami football player has been shot and killed. Amara Soans live in Kendall with the very latest, Amara. Michael Jackey, Miami-Dade Police, confirming tonight Brian Pata, UM's defensive lineman, was shot and killed tonight. We are told his body was found in the park. From the outside looking in, it was the kind of case that police should have been motivated to solve quickly.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the story behind Brian Pata's murder?
0:00–4:16
2
How did Brian Pata's life and personality come to light?
4:16–21:15
3
What was the initial reaction to Brian Pata's tragic death?
21:15–24:10
4
How did the investigation into Brian Pata's murder unfold over the years?
24:10–25:49
5
What role did ESPN reporters play in reviving the case?
25:49–36:42
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