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Did mixing sports and horror hurt or help ‘HIM’?

Vivian Amoia
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Did mixing sports and horror hurt or help ‘HIM’?

The newest horror movie from Jordan Peele’s production company, “HIM,” hit theaters on Sept. 19.  The sports-horror mashup got people’s attention, but not their praise. 

I personally enjoyed watching the characters develop and see how the film makers wove the two themes together. Overall, I thought the ending could have been stronger and way more appealing to the audience. With less symbolism and more straight up scary jumpscares, this film could’ve been chef’s kiss.

“HIM” follows a young quarterback played by Tyriq Withers training with his football role model, played by Marlon Wayans. for a shot at the big leagues. What starts as an inspiring, rise to the top sports narrative, quickly turns into something darker.

While this film is heavily associated with famous director Jordan Peele, it is important to note that he did not direct this film. Instead, he produced it under his production company, Monkeypaw Productions. Justin Tipping, from hit shows like “The Chi” and “Dear White People,” directed the film with the Oscar-winner’s help . 

“I’m a fan of Jordan Peele and Marlon Wayans, and on top of that it’s a football movie, and I’m a football player. I wanted to see what the horror take on it would be,” said Mark Trapp II, a moviegoer at  AMC at Sunset Place on opening night.

Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans typically plays comedic roles in his movies, starring in “White Chicks” and “Little Man.” Seeing him take on a more serious role felt strange at first, but fitting after watching the film.

The film explores sacrifice, power, corruption and ambition, while echoing the typical suspense and eeriness of a Peele movie with Tipping’s own spin. It also ties the same themes into the sports world, giving audiences an almost dual-plot view. 

It uses highly detailed visuals of the human body and the brain to show injuries and concussions, almost like the characteristics of a psychological thriller. The film keeps viewers guessing throughout.

For example, watching the character played by Tim Heidecker continue to slip secret drugs and tips to Cam had the whole theater wondering, “What is going on.” 

As the plot develops, it almost gets lost during the rising action. While it is clear that Tipping was trying to tie in a subplot of obsession, fandom, and the public eye, it felt random and like a bump in the plot.

There are also a large amount of biblical allusions like Cam suffering a head injury and bleeding from his head like a crown of thorns and several references to “being a god.” Tipping also had an occurring  double entendre with the animal goat being used for sacrifices and the sport’s phrase GOAT, meaning the greatest of all time. 

As someone who is Catholic and a huge football fan, this symbolism was quite honestly uncomfortable and odd to watch play out. Seeing the business side of sports being compared to something so evil was jarring. 

Overall, it was a thrilling movie that kept the audience’s attention and  connected sports to religion and ambition to sacrifice. 

It can be seen as more of a strange, gory type of horror film as opposed to an adrenaline-filled, on the edge of your seat type of horror movie.

Miami earns first ACC point, draws 0-0 with SMU

Liam Hickey
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Miami earns first ACC point, draws 0-0 with SMU

Miami women’s soccer battled to a stalemate against SMU on Sunday afternoon, surviving a late attacking onslaught by the Mustangs to draw 0-0 and escape with their first point in four games of conference play. 

The Hurricanes were held off the scoresheet for the second consecutive match, kept in check by another stingy ACC defense as both squads earned their sixth shutout of the season. 

Miami went wire-to-wire with the Mustangs in an energetic first half, applying pressure offensively and generating four shots with one on goal. The ’Canes driving attack forced SMU to get physical, stacking up seven fouls in the first 45 minutes alone. UM also limited 

Southern Methodist to zero attempts from the corner flag in the opening period of play, after the home side had entered the contest ranked top 15 in the nation in corner kicks per game. 

But despite promising chances from both teams, the two ACC opponents remained deadlocked going into the break. 

For the remainder of the match, the Mustangs were comfortably in the saddle. SMU forwards Liz Eddy and Sammy Nieves powered a turbocharged offensive unit that constantly found ways to threaten Miami’s back line. The pair flashed blistering speed down the left and right flanks, winning the byline and setting up dangerous opportunities over the entire second half. 

Their best scoring chances came inside the final quarter as Eddy struck the crossbar in the 73rd minute after a surging run down the right wing, followed by a shot from Kaya Lee inside the box a minute later that was blocked ‘Canes defender Lexi Lerwick. 

The Mustang barrage reached its crescendo in the 83rd minute, when Eddy sprinted behind outside back Jessica Kaye on the right side to square a pass to Nieves, who found herself free inside the 18 for an easy tap-in to give Southern Methodist the breakthrough with less than 10 minutes left. 

But Hurricanes goalkeeper Atlee Olofson had other plans. 

With the game on the line, the Notre Dame transfer made a diving fingertip save, redirecting the shot headed towards the right corner off the post to keep the score level at zero. 

Head coach Ken Masuhr’s defense bent but didn’t break, keeping their shape and fending off all of SMU’s 10 second-half shots. Lexi Lerwick’s vital intervention along with well-timed tackles and solid positioning throughout the match helped to preserve the clean sheet for Miami. 

The Hurricanes (6-4-1, 0-3-1 ACC) will now travel to Tallahassee on Friday, Oct. 3 for the final leg of their four-game road trip for a faceoff against rival Florida State. The heavyweight clash against the No. 6 Seminoles kicks off at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

David Lebowitz, Contributing Photographer/ Miami Soccer pregrame huddle on Sunday, September 14.

Hurricanes finish sixth at the FSU XC Invitational

Ansel Mello
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Hurricanes finish sixth at the FSU XC Invitational

Following a hard-fought set of races, the University of Miami men’s and women’s cross-country teams placed sixth at the Tallahassee Invitational on Friday at Apalachee Regional Park. Following a 12th place finish just two weeks earlier at the Southern Showcase, the Hurricanes delivered a sixth overall bounce-back performance. 

The men’s team claimed sixth place out of a competitive 35-team field, tallying 194 points. Graduate student Colton Morris led the way for Miami, placing 17th overall with an impressive 8K time of 25:11.7. 

Freshman standout Sukai Truxal wasn’t far behind, taking 31st with a time of 25:35.6, showing promise for the future of ‘Canes XC. Junior Michael Castillo added another solid performance, finishing 47th overall in 25:55.7. 

Rounding out Miami’s scorers were senior Evan Peña, who crossed in 48th at 25:57.3, and sophomore Alex Severson, who closed the scoring at 53rd with a time of 26:06.1. Collectively, the Hurricanes continue to shave significant time off their averages each meet. 

On the women’s side, Miami turned in an equally strong showing. Facing a field of 36 teams, the Hurricanes scored 196 points. Junior Maddie Scheier continued her dominance as a Hurricane, recording a second top-15 finish of the year. She placed 15th overall with a 6K time of 21:41.1, pacing Miami with consistent success. 

Close behind her was sophomore Emma Hencock, who placed 39th in 22:32.7, turning in one of her best efforts of the season. Miami also benefited from strong races by rising freshmen Katie Hetzel and Lillian Deskins, who finished 40th and 43rd, respectively, with times of 22:34.4 and 22:37.2. Both continue to find their footing at the collegiate level and have shown the potential to develop into stars for the Hurricanes in the years ahead. 

Senior veteran Lexi Arambulo rounded out the scoring for the ‘Canes, clocking 22:55.9 to finish 61st overall. While her season started slowly, Arambulo displayed flashes of her past success, giving Miami another boost of optimism for the stretch ahead.

The Hurricanes will now take a three-week break from competition before traveling to the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Oct. 17. With momentum building from their strong performance at the FSU Invitational, Miami looks to continue their climb and make further strides as the season moves forward. 

Former NFL star Rudi Johnson reportedly dies by suicide at 45

Madison Block
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Former NFL star Rudi Johnson reportedly dies by suicide at 45

Former Cincinnati Bengals player Rudi Johnson died at 45 in his Miami-Dade home on Tuesday, Sept. 23, according to Florida authorities. 

The cause of death was recently reported as a suicide. Although no foul play is suspected, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Johnson. 

“All indications are leading to suicide,” said Detective Joseph Peguero of Miami-Dade County in a statement to NBC News.

Johnson was a former Pro Bowl running back and a three-time 1,000-yard rusher for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2001 to 2007, before retiring in 2008 with the Detroit Lions. 

He was born in Virginia but resided primarily in Florida during the last decade of his life.  Records show that he purchased a $1.3 million home in Coral Gables in September 2010 but sold the property in 2016. 

Johnson purchased a condo unit in Sunny Isles Beach in 2019 which was where he was found deceased.

The Bengals released a statement of his passing around noon on Tuesday.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals President Mike Brown said. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

Johnson’s death may be connected to chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head. CTE has been diagnosed in numerous deceased NFL players.

Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, said he hopes Johnson’s death will open more conversations surrounding CTE.

“The NFL and the scientific community must do more — more research into CTE, more innovation into how we can treat it, prevent it, and provide support to those living with it,” Schaffer said in a statement.

Johnson was inducted into the Chesterfield Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 18 as a graduate of Thomas Dale High School. For the ceremony, he left a message for current students. 

“I just want to say dream big, shoot for the stars, stay focused, never give up. And one more thing: For all the kids from Chesterfield County, I’ll be watching for the next star to be born.”

Rudi Johnson played much of his eight-year NFL career with the Bengals. Via Cincinnati Bengals on X

No. 24 Miami Sweeps Georgia Tech in ACC Opener

Ellie Cardelle
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No. 24 Miami Sweeps Georgia Tech in ACC Opener

The No. 24 University of Miami volleyball team (11-1, 1-0 ACC) opened conference play in commanding fashion, sweeping Georgia Tech (5-5, 0-1 ACC) on Friday night at the O’Keefe Gymnasium.

The Hurricanes controlled the game, with 43 kills, 32 digs, 11 blocks and seven aces, showing dominance on both offense and defense throughout the match. Miami’s seniors set the tone, with Flormarie Heredia Colon tallying 15 kills, and Dalia Wilson anchoring both ends with 10 kills and seven blocks. Redshirt sophomore Ariana Rodriguez orchestrated the offense with 30 assists and five aces, being a staple piece in Miami’s fast paced attack.

Miami had the tone set early, with eight team blocks to edge out a tight first set, 26-24. The Hurricanes carried that momentum into set two, hitting .571 as Heredia Colon recorded six of her 15 kills to fuel a dominant 25-14 win. Ava Carney and Amina N’Diaye contributed key kills during an opening run, while on defense, Naylani Feliciano helped steady the back row with several critical digs.

Rodriguez’s serving powered Miami again in the third, as her three early aces built a cushion the Hurricanes never relinquished. The Yellow Jackets struggled to find rhythm offensively, hitting just .154 in the final set, while Miami’s efficiency and balanced attack closed out the match with a 25-20 victory.

The Hurricanes extended their winning streak to 11, and picked up their first ACC victory so far this season. 

Miami continues their road trip Sunday against Clemson, where they look to keep their winning streak alive.

Carson Beck: From Georgia’s dynasty to Miami’s spotlight

Bella Armstrong
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Carson Beck: From Georgia’s dynasty to Miami’s spotlight

When quarterback Carson Beck transferred from the Georgia to Miami, he wasn’t just leaving behind a SEC dynasty—he was leaving one temple of college sports and stepping into another. 

Since his transfer, Beck has seen two very different sides of the college football landscape. 

In the SEC, Saturdays are treated like a pilgrimage: war chants as prayer, head coaches as mythological figureheads, stadiums as cathedrals. The entire ecosystem is built on tradition, lineage, and reverence for what—and who—came before.

But unlike football in the south, Miami football is less about reverence and more about spectacle. While SEC football demands reverence of the past, Miami football thrives on disrupting the future. 

Hurricane football thrives on swagger, sparkle, and challenging the status quo. The U has always prided itself on reinvention—turning brashness into identity, style into substance and taking individuals from all walks of life to unite them under one formidable banner.

Beck now leads the team under said banner—the newly crowned No. 2 team in the country, in fact.

Despite a shaky performance against in-state rival Florida, Beck’s near-perfect opening stretch helped catapult UM to No. 2 in the AP Top 25—its highest ranking since 2017, when Malik Rosier led the Hurricanes to a 10–0 start. For a program hungry to maintain national relevance, Beck isn’t just a quarterback; he’s a narrative.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck steps up to throw versus Notre Dame Aug. 30. Photo Credit: Brian Mulvey

And with narrative comes money — namely, personal branding. In the last few years, that has meant name, image, and likeness. Beck entered Miami with a wave of NIL deals that can’t compare what he had in Athens. While Georgia’s dynasty offered him prestige, Miami offered him a platform—one that brands are eager to attach themselves to. 

As Beck’s NIL deals are rumored to be some of the highest in the country, garnering much debate about how college athletes should and should not be compensated, he is living proof about how powerhouse athletes are honored on the national stage. And in a sport where NIL has redrawn the balance of power, Beck is illustrating how athletes now weigh endorsement potential as heavily as playbooks.

In choosing UM over the NFL draft, Beck suggested something deeper than loyalty to another year of college football. He signaled that the U is worth putting off professional playtime—magnetic enough to pull talent away from the most dominant and talked-about conference in college sports and lucrative enough to delay playing football professionally. It’s perhaps the highest compliment UM football could receive.

The comparison extends beyond bank accounts and brand deals. In the SEC, Beck was another cog in a tradition-rich machine. In Miami, he is on full display as the centerpiece of a rebrand—for himself, for the program, and perhaps for the ACC at large. If the SEC sermon is about honoring the past, Beck’s Miami experiment suggests the ACC could preach a future where reinvention and marketability matter just as much as wins, a belief system by which the U has already been living.

Melissa Borges, Contributing Photographer, University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck warms up before facing Bethune-Cookman University on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

Beck traded pageantry for showtime, southern lineage for Miami’s glorious luster. But whether Miami delivers the quarterback the Heisman Trophy or a national title remains to be seen. 

His transfer has already rewritten the sermon: today, the temple of college football isn’t defined solely by tradition—it’s wherever the spotlight burns brightest. 

But perhaps Beck coming to Miami will rewrite the gospel on what college football could be. 

Bain’s case for Heisman

Anirudh Kannan
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Bain’s case for Heisman

Expletives about Notre Dame were written multiple times in Hurricanes defensive lineman Reuben Bain Jr.’s notebook prior to Miami’s home opener against the Fighting Irish.

He finished that game with six total tackles, a sack, and a game-changing interception.

His dominant performance against rival Notre Dame reflected the edge he’s carried into every game this season — an edge that has elevated him into early Heisman contention.

The Heisman trophy, given to the Nation’s top player, has been historically awarded to skill players on the offensive side of the ball. But, the start of Bain’s 2025 campaign has been so dominant that if he continues his current pace, he will undoubtedly be the most deserving player of the award.


The homegrown junior has been solid on the stat sheet, racking up two sacks, two forced turnovers, and 22 total tackles as part of a Miami defense that has allowed just 11.5 points per game. 

As impressive as Bain’s numbers are, his impact this year has gone far beyond the stat sheet. 

Bain has scored a Pro Football Focus Grade of over 90 in three of the Hurricanes’ first four games, even earning PFF’s Defensive Player of the Week following a stellar performance against Florida in week four.

Largely due to Bain’s play, quarterbacks against Miami have struggled immensely. The Hurricanes defense has allowed just three touchdowns through the air this season. 

While UM’s secondary certainly deserves plenty of credit for their stout pass defense, Bain and the Miami front four have given opposing quarterbacks very little time to get rid of the football, sequentially making the secondary’s job much easier. 

Assistant Photo Editor Brian Mulvey // Junior defensive back Rueban Bain Jr. (4) and sixth-year reddshirt senior defensive back Keionte Scott (0) chase Florida’s DJ Lagway on Sept. 20, 2025

Redshirt senior Akheem Mesidor leads the Hurricanes in sacks with two and a half, and his skillset cannot be overstated. That being said, much of his success has come due to all the double teams and attention Bain draws from defenses.

Bain deservedly receives much praise for his pass rushing ability, but he has been equally impressive as a run-stopper for the ‘Canes’ defense. As high as his PFF pass rush grades have been, his rush defense grades have been extraordinary as well. 

Beyond his own personal achievements, Bain’s case for the Heisman has only been intensified by his lack of competition.

Preseason front runners for the award like quarterbacks Arch Manning and Cade Klubnik have been unremarkable to start their seasons, and very few receivers or running backs across the nation have made Heisman-worthy impacts for their respective teams. 

Still, there are a few serious competitors that may challenge Bain in his Heisman campaign. 

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer led the Sooners to a red hot 4-0 start, but has since fallen out of the race due to a hand injury that will sideline him for a significant amount of time.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has had similar success to Mateer, putting up fantastic numbers as part of a thriving Hoosiers team. In his last matchup against Illinois, Mendoza threw an impressive five passing touchdowns on route to a 63-10 blowout victory. 

Bain’s own teammate Carson Beck has also received Heisman consideration as the leader of the Miami offense, but an ordinary performance against Florida in Miami’s last matchup significantly dropped his odds to win the award.

The quarterback position is generally considered to be the most important in football, with seven of the last ten Heisman winners being field generals. 

The only defensive lineman to win the award is Notre Dame icon Leon Hart, who played both sides of the ball as both an edge rusher and tight end. 

Only two other defensive players besides Hart have won the Heisman, with defensive back Charles Woodson taking the honors in 1997 and dual-threat star Travis Hunter winning the award in 2024.

Freshman defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. strips the ball from Clemson sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik in the second quarter of Miami’s game versus Clemson at Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 21, 2023. Photo credit: Jared Lennon

However, the precedent of defensive players being overlooked by the Heisman committee should not result in Bain receiving the same unfair treatment. 

If quarterbacks are supposedly the most influential players in football, then perhaps more recognition should be given to defensive linemen like Bain who have the greatest ability to impact QB performance relative to any other position.

Out of all the defensive linemen this college football season, no player has been able to impact the game this year like Bain has. He doesn’t have the flashiest numbers compared to some of his counterparts, but the fear factor he brings to the Miami defense is immeasurable. 

It only may be week five of the college football season, but Bain seems to have already cemented himself as the best college football player in the nation. If he can continue the dominance he’s already put on display through weeks one through four, Bain should become the first Miami player to win the Heisman since quarterback Gino Torretta in 1992. 

Miami blanked by Louisville 2-0, remain winless in ACC

Liam Hickey
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Miami blanked by Louisville 2-0, remain winless in ACC

University of Miami Women’s Soccer was held scoreless by Louisville on Thursday, falling 2-0 at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium and dropping to 0-3 in conference play. 

The Hurricanes started out flat in the second fixture of their four-game road trip, quickly finding themselves on the back foot as the Cardinals forced the issue early on, launching a flurry of crosses into the box within the first 15 minutes. 

Louisville broke the ice in the 17th minute after Grace Maddox squared an incisive low-driven pass across the frame to Emersen Jennings, who drilled it into the top-left corner from point-blank range to give the home side the early advantage. 

The Cardinals doubled their lead just before the break because of a blunder from Emily Bredek. The goalkeeper couldn’t corral a routine save from a long distance attempt by Lizzie Sexton, and Kiley Peat beat Bredek to the loose ball to slot home Louisville’s second of the night. 

The ’Canes surged forward at the beginning of the second half and were almost rewarded when forward Teegan Melenhorst went down inside the 18-yard box to earn a penalty for Miami. 

However, defender Emilie Simpson was denied at the spot by Louisville keeper Erynn Floyd, effectively squashing any momentum Miami had gathered. The Hurricanes failed to record another shot on goal over the remaining 40 minutes as Louisville sealed their ninth straight home win. The Cardinals improved to 10-2, securing their first double-digit win season since 2019. 

In total, the ’Canes registered five shots on the night, led by Melenhorst’s two. Emily Bredek and Atlee Olofson split time in net, with Bredek recording a pair of saves and Olofson finishing the contest with four. 

After a clinical start to the season, Miami (6-4-1, 0-3 ACC) is caught in a scoring drought, tallying only three goals in their last four games. They have now been defeated in all three of their ACC matches by an aggregate of 1-5. 

TMH Sportscast: Florida takeaways and Miami’s Week 4 report card with Sebastian Font

Liam Hickey, Zach Cohen and Sebastian Font
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Miami stomped Florida 26-7 to move to 4-0, and College GameDay rolled into Coral Gables. Zach and Liam are joined by TMH Co-Sports Editor and Canes Insight analyst Sebastian Font to break down Miami’s win, the bye week, the new ACC scheduling format, and more on this week’s episode of the TMH Sportscast.

Sigma Chi Fraternity placed on interim suspension

Katie Karlson
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Sigma Chi Fraternity placed on interim suspension

UM’s chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity, often referred to as Sig Chi, has been placed on interim suspension by the International Fraternity as of Sept. 18. 

Since this suspension was issued by international fraternity headquarters, it is unclear what the suspension means for Sig Chi.

Michael Church, the executive director of Sig Chi International Fraternity, provided a statement to The Hurricane. 

“Sigma Chi International Fraternity has received allegations of potential misconduct in our chapter at the University of Miami. In accordance with our standard procedure, we have begun an investigation into the allegations and have placed the chapter on an interim suspension while we do so,” said Church. “Any member found to be responsible for violations of Sigma Chi’s policies, procedures or stated principles will be held fully accountable.” 

Despite its suspension, Sig Chi is still listed as recognized in good standing on UM’s website at the time of publication because UM’s website only reflects final disciplinary decisions. This decision was made by the international fraternity, not the university.

“The University has been informed by the Sigma Chi International Fraternity that their University of Miami chapter has been placed on interim suspension. No further details have been provided to the University,” the University of Miami said in a statement to The Hurricane. “At this time, there have not been any related reports made to the Dean of Students Office.”

Sig Chi President CJ D’Angelo did not respond for comment. 

Sig Chi has been suspended before. It and other UM fraternities were suspended for violating COVID-19 policies in March of 2021. 

“Sigma Chi is a well-established fraternal leader committed to fostering the personal development of its men in an environment where the welfare of our members is of paramount importance,” Church said in his statement. 

Currently, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon are on final disciplinary probation. Beta Theta Pi and Zeta Beta Tau are on strict disciplinary probation through the spring of 2026.


This is a developing story. If you have any information, please contact editor@themiamihurricane.com or fill out the news-tip form at this link.

Walk of shame survival guide

Nyema Davilmar
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Nyema breaks down the ultimate UM survival strategy for the Walk of Shame. From frat house escapes and Mahoney-Pearson elevator run-ins to off-campus treks and Brickell commutes, this episode ranks the best escape routes and gives you foolproof tips to blend in, play it cool, or own the moment entirely. With sunglasses, a borrowed hoodie, and a little confidence, you’ll turn the Walk of Shame into a Stride of Pride, Miami style.

Exclusive: Why prosecutors mistakenly believed key witness in fatal 2006 shooting of Hurricane football player was dead

Mel Tenkoff
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Exclusive: Why prosecutors mistakenly believed key witness in fatal 2006 shooting of Hurricane football player was dead

In an exclusive exchange with The Hurricane, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office explained why prosecutors mistakenly believed that a key witness in the 2006 shooting of Miami Hurricanes’ Bryan Pata was dead. 

Pata, who was projected as a possible third-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, was just 22 years old when he died. He was shot and killed outside his Kendall apartment complex on Nov. 7, 2006. 

The key witness, former English professor at UM, Paul Conner, told police he heard a “pop” and saw a man “jogging away” from the parking lot entrance in a 2022 testimony. Conner identified Pata’s former teammate, Rashaun Jones, as the alleged shooter in a photo lineup, according to ESPN. 

In the summer of 2025, prosecutors mistakenly reported that Conner had died

SAO Public Information Officer Ed Griffith said investigators relied on the public records database CLEAR, which indicated Conner had died. 

Officers in Louisville then conducted a welfare check by knocking on Conner’s door to confirm his death on July 8, 2025.

“Upon hearing no sounds from inside, [Homicide Detective Russell Lassiter and Officer Joseph Gonzales] visited the management office who informed them they did not have an individual by [the name Paul Conner] living there,” Griffith said.

Later this summer, reporters from ESPN knocked on Conner’s apartment door expecting no response, but instead found him alive. ESPN then contacted the SAO for a comment on Sept. 18, alerting prosecutors that Conner was alive.

“Louisville Homicide was again contacted and Detectives Budzinski and Burns went to Conner’s residence on Sept. 18 and made contact with him,” Griffith said.

The State received body camera footage from Louisville Metro Police documenting officers’ visits on July 8, July 22, and Sept. 18.

“The State informed the court on Friday, Sept. 19, that Conner was alive,” Griffith said. “[We] told the court we would need to re-address the prior unavailability ruling in light of the new information.”

Conner’s 2022 testimony has been preserved and may still be used at trial if he does not testify in person. Testimony is often preserved in cases where a witness may die, become incapacitated, be overseas or face other serious limitations.

“Conner’s availability (or unavailability) determines whether Conner testifies live at trial or the video of his perpetuated testimony is played,” Griffith said. 

The trial, originally set for Oct. 6, 2025, has been postponed to Feb. 9, 2026, through a court continuance.

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