Overview

• At a Friday hearing, Miami prosecutors said officers contacted 81-year-old Paul Conner at his Kentucky residence and reported he appeared confused about the case.
• Conner is the only eyewitness who previously identified defendant Rashaun Jones, and a judge had allowed use of his 2022 recorded testimony when the court believed he was deceased.
• Defense attorney Sara Alvarez requested a hearing on whether the state misled the court and violated evidence rules, seeking records of efforts to locate Conner.
• Officials said they relied on a commercial database that suggested Conner was dead despite lacking a death certificate, and Louisville police reported no records of an earlier in-person check.
• The case remains set for Oct. 6, with attorneys conferring on next steps that could determine whether Conner testifies live or prior testimony is used.