MIAMI — The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office says it never told ESPN that a key witness in the Bryan Pata murder trial was dead, clarifying a misunderstanding reported by the sports publication.
Detective Angel Rodriguez, a spokesman for MDSO, told Local 10 News Friday that a database had listed someone by the name, Paul Connors, as deceased, but deputies were never able to confirm the information.
Rodriguez said the agency could not locate a birth certificate, death certificate, or any other official record to substantiate the claim.
Rodriguez said ESPN later located Connors at the same address Miami-Dade deputies had previously checked.
However, deputies found no documents — such as property records or rental agreements — linking him to the apartment and ended their search.
Rodriguez said the mix-up was discussed in court Friday and explained to the judge, who understood the situation.
A previous report stated that Conners had previously testified that he saw someone jogging away from the parking lot entrance the night of the killing and identified former University of Miami football player Rashaun Jones in a lineup.
Connor, now 81, told ESPN he does not recall what happened.
Jones, 40, has been in jail for the past four years, accused of killing his former teammate, Pata, 22, on Nov. 7, 2006, in Kendall.
Defense attorney Sara Alvarez said her team relied on a database that listed Connors as deceased. The court had accepted that information, allowing prosecutors to use Connors’ prior testimony at trial.
Prosecutors told the judge they believed they had done their due diligence in attempting to locate Connors.
Despite the clarification, the judge ruled the trial will proceed as scheduled on Oct. 6, emphasizing that no further delays will be granted.
Local 10 Assignment Editor Wilson Louis contributed to this report.
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