1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:02,667 [newscaster] Preparing for a big game isn't easy 2 00:00:02,667 --> 00:00:04,867 when you're focused on bigger issues. 3 00:00:04,867 --> 00:00:07,967 We were made aware at ESPN of a punter attack. 4 00:00:08,033 --> 00:00:09,867 We don't hear stories like this. 5 00:00:10,867 --> 00:00:13,467 It was just like a crazy story. 6 00:00:13,467 --> 00:00:15,000 [siren blaring] 7 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,367 [Florence Mendoza] My daughter told me that we needed to go to Greeley. 8 00:00:18,433 --> 00:00:20,266 Rafael got stabbed. 9 00:00:20,266 --> 00:00:24,467 We started interviewing the entire 80-person football team. 10 00:00:24,467 --> 00:00:27,767 The football community was really rocked by what had happened. 11 00:00:27,767 --> 00:00:31,867 This case went in a direction that no-one was expecting. 12 00:00:31,934 --> 00:00:34,066 [Scott Downing] I felt shock, astonishment. 13 00:00:34,066 --> 00:00:35,967 "How could this ever happen?" 14 00:00:36,033 --> 00:00:38,367 "Who would do this to Rafael?" 15 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,166 [theme music playing] 16 00:01:05,967 --> 00:01:08,734 [Downing] September 11th started like any other Monday. 17 00:01:09,266 --> 00:01:11,467 We would have a meeting 18 00:01:11,467 --> 00:01:14,066 where we would talk about the week's schedule, 19 00:01:14,066 --> 00:01:16,467 who we were playing that Saturday, 20 00:01:16,467 --> 00:01:18,066 what we needed to get done. 21 00:01:19,567 --> 00:01:22,266 We were getting ready to play Texas State 22 00:01:22,333 --> 00:01:24,367 so, we knew it was a big game. 23 00:01:26,266 --> 00:01:28,767 After practice, our football team, 24 00:01:28,767 --> 00:01:30,867 we had a required Study Hall. 25 00:01:30,867 --> 00:01:34,266 Study Table would usually end around 9:00, at night. 26 00:01:34,266 --> 00:01:36,634 Rafael Mendoza was at Study Table. 27 00:01:38,867 --> 00:01:40,533 Rafael was a punter. 28 00:01:40,967 --> 00:01:42,233 He was our best punter. 29 00:01:49,667 --> 00:01:52,467 [Meghan Gregory] I didn't have anything planned for that night, 30 00:01:52,533 --> 00:01:55,233 just hang out with Rafael and maybe watch a movie or something. 31 00:02:01,266 --> 00:02:03,867 He did call me that Monday 32 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:05,967 to let me know that he was 33 00:02:05,967 --> 00:02:08,767 just getting ready to leave from Study Hall, 34 00:02:08,767 --> 00:02:11,767 and would be home in about 35 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,333 ten minutes. 36 00:02:14,867 --> 00:02:17,734 He told me, "I love you." 37 00:02:18,500 --> 00:02:19,967 And that was the end of the call. 38 00:02:36,100 --> 00:02:39,266 [Florence] Rafael called just to tell me that he was on his way home, 39 00:02:39,266 --> 00:02:40,734 from study class. 40 00:02:41,467 --> 00:02:43,667 That was just a standard conversation. 41 00:02:43,734 --> 00:02:45,433 "How was your day?" "Fine." 42 00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:48,667 "Anything exciting?" "No." 43 00:02:48,734 --> 00:02:51,467 I always would just tell him that I would talk to him later, 44 00:02:51,467 --> 00:02:52,967 for him to be careful. 45 00:02:53,033 --> 00:02:54,433 Always be careful. 46 00:02:56,667 --> 00:02:58,867 [siren blaring] 47 00:03:02,467 --> 00:03:05,033 [Anjanette Salyers] At around 10:00 pm, on September 11th, 48 00:03:05,767 --> 00:03:07,867 my partner and I were advised 49 00:03:07,867 --> 00:03:11,333 of a stabbing that had occurred in Evans. 50 00:03:12,967 --> 00:03:16,634 The victim was a UNC student on the football team. 51 00:03:18,266 --> 00:03:21,667 Greeley is a smaller-town feel 52 00:03:21,734 --> 00:03:24,767 of people very well connected to one another. 53 00:03:25,567 --> 00:03:29,166 A stabbing victim in that area of town, 54 00:03:29,166 --> 00:03:31,967 was pretty abnormal. 55 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,567 [Gregory] After just a short period of time, 56 00:03:39,567 --> 00:03:43,233 Rafael called me on my phone. 57 00:03:44,367 --> 00:03:46,333 I could tell he was in pain. 58 00:03:48,266 --> 00:03:51,133 He told me that he had been stabbed. 59 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:56,066 I went running out of the apartment, 60 00:03:56,133 --> 00:03:58,767 downstairs, to where he was in the parking lot. 61 00:03:58,767 --> 00:04:01,567 [siren wailing] 62 00:04:01,567 --> 00:04:03,667 By the time, I had gotten to the bottom of the stairs, 63 00:04:03,667 --> 00:04:05,667 the ambulance was just showing up. 64 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:17,166 [Gregory] It was a very traumatic night. 65 00:04:17,166 --> 00:04:21,634 I wasn't sure what to think, what was going on. 66 00:04:21,967 --> 00:04:23,667 Not sure what... 67 00:04:24,667 --> 00:04:26,667 What the outcome was gonna be. 68 00:04:28,867 --> 00:04:30,667 [Downing] Zack Bigelow, one of our kickers, 69 00:04:30,667 --> 00:04:33,166 burst into my office and told me, 70 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,867 "Rafael's going to the hospital." 71 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:41,367 Rafael had called Zack before the ambulance got there, 72 00:04:41,367 --> 00:04:45,567 and told him to tell the football program that he had been stabbed. 73 00:04:45,567 --> 00:04:47,567 There's only one hospital in Greeley, 74 00:04:47,567 --> 00:04:49,634 and so I went out, and I... 75 00:04:50,166 --> 00:04:52,166 got in my car and took off. 76 00:04:52,467 --> 00:04:53,767 I felt shock, 77 00:04:53,767 --> 00:04:55,166 astonishment. 78 00:04:55,233 --> 00:04:56,667 "How could this ever happen?" 79 00:04:56,667 --> 00:04:59,567 "Is this guy gonna be around in the morning?" 80 00:05:02,667 --> 00:05:04,166 [Florence] I was getting ready for bed 81 00:05:04,233 --> 00:05:06,166 and my daughter 82 00:05:06,667 --> 00:05:07,934 told me that 83 00:05:08,467 --> 00:05:10,467 we needed to go to Greeley. 84 00:05:10,533 --> 00:05:12,166 And I... I said, "Why?" 85 00:05:12,166 --> 00:05:14,266 And she says, 86 00:05:14,266 --> 00:05:16,333 "Meghan called me. And she said that... 87 00:05:17,266 --> 00:05:18,967 Rafael got stabbed." 88 00:05:22,266 --> 00:05:23,667 I didn't know what to think, 89 00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:26,233 because nobody knew how he was. 90 00:05:29,166 --> 00:05:31,967 Not knowing, that was the worst part. 91 00:05:40,166 --> 00:05:43,066 Rafael was pretty athletic since he was little. 92 00:05:43,066 --> 00:05:47,266 He started with soccer and he got to be really good at kicking. 93 00:05:47,266 --> 00:05:53,000 And once he saw that he had a really good distance in kicking, 94 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,834 that's what he wanted to do. 95 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,767 He said, "I'm gonna try out for football." 96 00:05:57,767 --> 00:05:59,967 And when he was in high school, 97 00:05:59,967 --> 00:06:03,767 he tried out for the field goal kicker. 98 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:10,367 Well, I met him the say I was introduced as the new head coach. 99 00:06:10,367 --> 00:06:14,066 Rafael was not afraid to meet people. He was always friendly. 100 00:06:14,066 --> 00:06:16,000 He was always smiling. 101 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,767 He was just a good guy to be around, you know. 102 00:06:17,834 --> 00:06:19,934 He was a good teammate to everybody. 103 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,667 [Gregory] What stood out to me about Rafael 104 00:06:22,734 --> 00:06:24,233 was just that he was... 105 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,467 funny and he was nice. 106 00:06:26,467 --> 00:06:29,667 He was friendly with everyone. 107 00:06:29,667 --> 00:06:32,133 And he enjoyed playing football. 108 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:34,767 [crowd cheering] 109 00:06:34,834 --> 00:06:38,367 [commentator] Punter is Rafael Mendoza, sophomore at Thornton, Colorado. 110 00:06:38,367 --> 00:06:41,367 [Gregory] Football games are a very big event at UNC. 111 00:06:41,367 --> 00:06:43,667 On football game day, 112 00:06:43,734 --> 00:06:46,667 there's a lot of tailgating, 113 00:06:46,734 --> 00:06:49,767 and a lot of people trying to get all of their friends together 114 00:06:49,767 --> 00:06:51,734 to go to the games. 115 00:06:53,266 --> 00:06:56,367 It was really exciting to see Rafael play. 116 00:06:56,433 --> 00:06:59,967 Especially because he had an important role. 117 00:07:01,567 --> 00:07:05,100 [Downing] Rafael came out of high school as a kicker and a punter. 118 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:09,667 But his athleticism, the kind of athlete he was, 119 00:07:09,734 --> 00:07:11,266 helped him be a really good punter. 120 00:07:11,266 --> 00:07:12,867 [commentator] Mendoza will kick it again, 121 00:07:12,867 --> 00:07:15,367 trying to win the fair catch back now. 122 00:07:15,367 --> 00:07:16,767 [Downing] He had a tremendous leg. 123 00:07:16,767 --> 00:07:18,967 His leg was just explosive. 124 00:07:19,033 --> 00:07:20,066 And when I say explosive, 125 00:07:20,066 --> 00:07:23,166 the ball would hit it and you could hear it go off. 126 00:07:23,166 --> 00:07:26,367 I mean, he would regularly hit four or five 127 00:07:26,367 --> 00:07:29,066 65-yard bombs as a punter, 128 00:07:29,133 --> 00:07:31,634 that would turn over, perfect spiral. 129 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:36,967 Rafael had a lot of physical talent. 130 00:07:36,967 --> 00:07:39,367 He could just hit a ball, and not pay attention, 131 00:07:39,367 --> 00:07:42,266 and it would still go better than everybody else's. 132 00:07:42,266 --> 00:07:45,033 He had a chance to be pretty special, he did. 133 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,767 [Florence] We tried to go to almost every football game. 134 00:07:50,834 --> 00:07:53,567 It was exciting, seeing him out there, 135 00:07:53,634 --> 00:07:55,667 and wanting to be out there, competing, 136 00:07:55,734 --> 00:07:57,667 and there was a lot of fans screaming, and... 137 00:07:58,266 --> 00:07:59,567 It was fun. 138 00:07:59,567 --> 00:08:01,033 I was proud. 139 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,533 Rafael loved football. 140 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,567 And his goal was to play professional football. 141 00:08:21,767 --> 00:08:25,133 [Florence] That night, my daughter was speeding to the hospital. 142 00:08:26,667 --> 00:08:28,767 -[siren wailing] -We got stopped by a cop. 143 00:08:30,667 --> 00:08:33,567 And she told him. She said, "I'm sorry. 144 00:08:33,567 --> 00:08:35,567 "It's just that my brother, he's a football player 145 00:08:35,567 --> 00:08:37,000 "and he just got stabbed." 146 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,333 And he said, "Yes, I think I just heard it come through the radio." 147 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:44,667 He drove in front of us. 148 00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:47,266 And took us down to the hospital. 149 00:08:47,266 --> 00:08:49,166 I didn't even wanna think the worst of it. 150 00:08:49,233 --> 00:08:51,367 But too many things go through your head 151 00:08:51,367 --> 00:08:52,934 when you just don't know. 152 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:56,734 I thought, was I gonna still see him alive? 153 00:08:57,266 --> 00:08:58,367 [siren blaring] 154 00:08:58,367 --> 00:09:02,166 It was very serious. I thought he was going to die. 155 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:11,734 I've never... 156 00:09:12,867 --> 00:09:14,634 told the whole story to anybody. 157 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,467 My whole life... 158 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,166 was changed that day. 159 00:09:23,166 --> 00:09:26,166 I was in a very dark place when I got stabbed. 160 00:09:26,166 --> 00:09:29,734 Especially after I found out who it was. 161 00:09:37,166 --> 00:09:39,467 [Rafael] The day started just like any other day. 162 00:09:41,367 --> 00:09:44,533 After practice, I went to Study Hall. 163 00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:50,166 Study Hall ended at nine o'clock. 164 00:09:51,900 --> 00:09:53,967 I went straight to my apartment. 165 00:09:54,033 --> 00:09:57,834 Like clockwork, I mean, I was very predictable. 166 00:10:06,767 --> 00:10:10,266 When I got home, I parked pretty much in the same area 167 00:10:10,266 --> 00:10:11,767 that I always parked. 168 00:10:13,867 --> 00:10:18,967 Next thing I remember is the sound of somebody behind me, 169 00:10:18,967 --> 00:10:21,767 with their feet kinda dragging on gravel. 170 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,266 And when I started to turn, 171 00:10:26,266 --> 00:10:29,033 I got hit really hard on the back of the neck, right here. 172 00:10:31,266 --> 00:10:33,867 That blow knocked me to the ground. 173 00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:35,233 I was... 174 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:38,166 [sighs] Uh... 175 00:10:38,233 --> 00:10:39,667 a little discombobulated. 176 00:10:39,667 --> 00:10:42,166 You know, my ears are ringing. 177 00:10:44,567 --> 00:10:47,467 And all of a sudden, it just clicked. 178 00:10:47,467 --> 00:10:48,834 I was getting attacked. 179 00:10:51,967 --> 00:10:54,266 When I turned over, 180 00:10:54,333 --> 00:10:57,767 I saw the person attacking me. 181 00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:00,934 But I couldn't see a face. 182 00:11:01,900 --> 00:11:03,867 He was wearing all black. 183 00:11:03,934 --> 00:11:06,266 Hoodie, black sweats. 184 00:11:06,266 --> 00:11:07,467 The hoodie was tied tight, 185 00:11:07,533 --> 00:11:10,266 so all you can see was, you know, just the face. 186 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:17,467 I didn't see any features that would describe who my attacker was. 187 00:11:17,533 --> 00:11:18,834 That's when... 188 00:11:19,367 --> 00:11:21,166 I saw the person pull a knife. 189 00:11:21,967 --> 00:11:24,233 He lunged at my chest, and swiped. 190 00:11:27,266 --> 00:11:30,467 And right when he was swiping, I pulled my knees to my chest, 191 00:11:30,467 --> 00:11:34,367 and basically put myself in the fetal position, to protect myself. 192 00:11:34,433 --> 00:11:37,066 And at that point, when he was swiping, he pulled back. 193 00:11:39,467 --> 00:11:42,634 And then he lunged and just jabbed me in the leg. 194 00:11:43,867 --> 00:11:45,266 [knife squelches] 195 00:11:46,166 --> 00:11:47,767 I knew, immediately, I got stabbed. 196 00:11:47,767 --> 00:11:50,166 I could feel it... I could feel it burning. 197 00:11:50,166 --> 00:11:52,333 First thing that went through my mind was, "I'm gonna die." 198 00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:55,667 At that exact moment, 199 00:11:55,667 --> 00:11:57,834 a car was pulling into the parking lot. 200 00:11:59,767 --> 00:12:02,634 The attacker saw that, turned, and started running away. 201 00:12:04,467 --> 00:12:06,834 And so, I jumped up. 202 00:12:08,066 --> 00:12:10,734 I don't know how but I just got to my feet. 203 00:12:11,667 --> 00:12:13,367 I jumped in front of the car, 204 00:12:13,433 --> 00:12:14,667 and I started waving my hands. 205 00:12:14,667 --> 00:12:15,867 And I said, "Stop! Stop! 206 00:12:15,867 --> 00:12:17,767 Stop that man, he just stabbed me." 207 00:12:17,834 --> 00:12:19,867 And all you could see is just a silhouette 208 00:12:19,867 --> 00:12:22,033 of the attacker running through all the cars. 209 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:27,233 And then he disappeared. 210 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:37,266 I reached down and I felt a hole in my leg. 211 00:12:37,333 --> 00:12:39,233 And I pulled out my hand, and it was full of blood. 212 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,166 I reached for my phone, called 911. 213 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:44,266 Told them what happened. 214 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:46,634 [siren blaring] 215 00:12:47,467 --> 00:12:49,266 Right away, the ambulance showed up. 216 00:12:55,767 --> 00:12:58,867 [Salyers] When officers arrived on the initial scene, 217 00:12:58,934 --> 00:13:02,533 they spoke to the witness who had driven in the parking lot. 218 00:13:04,100 --> 00:13:09,467 The witness said he tried to track down the suspect vehicle and who was in it. 219 00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:13,233 He had seen a suspect in a dark colored vehicle. 220 00:13:14,066 --> 00:13:15,834 But he just lost 'em. 221 00:13:21,467 --> 00:13:23,467 [Rafael] If he didn't pull into the parking lot, 222 00:13:23,467 --> 00:13:25,266 at that exact same moment, 223 00:13:25,333 --> 00:13:27,567 I wouldn't have been able to outrun 224 00:13:27,634 --> 00:13:29,133 this person that was attacking me. 225 00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:32,367 And... 226 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,233 I think of what could have happened. 227 00:13:40,367 --> 00:13:43,567 [siren blaring] 228 00:13:43,567 --> 00:13:45,567 The paramedics, when I was in the ambulance, 229 00:13:45,634 --> 00:13:48,667 kept telling me that the stab wound was... 230 00:13:48,667 --> 00:13:51,166 in a very dangerous place, 231 00:13:51,166 --> 00:13:53,066 and we needed to get to the hospital right away. 232 00:13:55,567 --> 00:13:56,867 I was scared. 233 00:13:56,934 --> 00:13:59,066 I mean, I might lose my leg. 234 00:14:02,467 --> 00:14:03,767 [Florence] I walked into the hospital 235 00:14:03,767 --> 00:14:05,467 and the first person that met me 236 00:14:05,467 --> 00:14:08,266 was the doctor, as soon as I walked in the room. 237 00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:12,066 And he told me, "You are very lucky to still have a son." 238 00:14:15,367 --> 00:14:17,000 He got stabbed 239 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,233 about an inch away from his main artery. 240 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,000 According to the doctor, 241 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,100 the stab wound was anywhere between six and eight inches deep. 242 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:31,467 Now, six to eight inches, you measure you leg, it's most of it 243 00:14:33,367 --> 00:14:35,467 He told me that it was 244 00:14:35,467 --> 00:14:36,867 within an inch of both, 245 00:14:36,867 --> 00:14:39,433 my sciatic nerve and my femoral artery. 246 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,867 It was the depth of the stab wound 247 00:14:42,934 --> 00:14:44,867 that made it close to both of them. 248 00:14:44,867 --> 00:14:46,333 And so... 249 00:14:47,567 --> 00:14:49,266 I started to cry. 250 00:14:49,266 --> 00:14:51,467 Not so much because of the pain, 251 00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:53,767 but because of what could potentially happen 252 00:14:53,767 --> 00:14:55,533 because of the injury. 253 00:14:57,266 --> 00:14:59,867 At the time, my life revolved around football. 254 00:14:59,867 --> 00:15:03,367 I had dreams of playing in the NFL one day. Um... 255 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:05,266 Every little kid does. 256 00:15:05,266 --> 00:15:08,767 But, you know, as I got better and better 257 00:15:08,834 --> 00:15:10,667 at the kicking position, 258 00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:12,934 I felt like I had a decent chance. 259 00:15:15,667 --> 00:15:17,066 And so... 260 00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:19,767 First thing that went through my mind 261 00:15:19,767 --> 00:15:22,066 was, "My career's over. I'm not gonna play no more." 262 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:27,934 [sniffles] 263 00:15:43,467 --> 00:15:46,467 [Downing] I got home maybe at 12 o'clock, 264 00:15:46,467 --> 00:15:48,467 after being at the emergency room. 265 00:15:48,533 --> 00:15:52,367 And I got a phone call from the Evans police. 266 00:15:52,433 --> 00:15:54,467 And they were just wanting to inform me 267 00:15:54,467 --> 00:15:58,166 that they were starting their investigation, right there and then. 268 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,367 I was concerned, 269 00:16:02,367 --> 00:16:06,266 because "What could happen to somebody else around our campus, 270 00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:08,266 "or somebody else on our team?" 271 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:16,000 [Wayne Drehs] We were made aware at ESPN of the new story of what happened. 272 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,367 Basically, it was like a... A punter attack. 273 00:16:18,367 --> 00:16:19,967 And therefore... 274 00:16:19,967 --> 00:16:21,266 when this came about, 275 00:16:21,333 --> 00:16:24,166 it was a story that caught our attention, 276 00:16:24,166 --> 00:16:25,967 like, "Hey' what's really happening here?" 277 00:16:27,266 --> 00:16:28,767 When the word got out, 278 00:16:28,834 --> 00:16:32,467 I had a constant stream of our players going through our office. 279 00:16:32,467 --> 00:16:35,367 And now, you've got a lot of scuttlebutt going on. 280 00:16:35,367 --> 00:16:38,533 There's talk everywhere, you know, "Who would do this?" 281 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:41,166 We knew our players, 282 00:16:41,233 --> 00:16:43,533 they were really nervous about getting attacked. 283 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,266 'Cause they didn't know 284 00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:48,467 why he was attacked or who attacked him 285 00:16:48,533 --> 00:16:50,433 or who was the next victim. 286 00:16:52,467 --> 00:16:56,266 We had to address the situation in meetings. 287 00:16:57,166 --> 00:16:59,266 I remember telling our coaches, 288 00:16:59,333 --> 00:17:02,667 "You need to talk to your position group about it, 289 00:17:02,667 --> 00:17:04,767 this is important, 290 00:17:04,767 --> 00:17:07,266 and it's important for their mental welfare." 291 00:17:08,066 --> 00:17:10,367 [Salyers] When I met Rafael, 292 00:17:10,433 --> 00:17:12,767 I could tell he was very traumatized, 293 00:17:12,767 --> 00:17:15,467 and confused of what happened and why. 294 00:17:15,467 --> 00:17:17,433 He just didn't understand why. 295 00:17:21,367 --> 00:17:24,166 My mind was all over the place. 296 00:17:24,233 --> 00:17:26,467 All I could see was this person attacking me. 297 00:17:26,533 --> 00:17:30,166 And then I realized that my attacker was the same person 298 00:17:30,233 --> 00:17:32,333 that I saw just few days before. 299 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,567 [Salyers] On September 7th, 2006, 300 00:17:39,567 --> 00:17:42,166 four days before he was attacked, 301 00:17:42,166 --> 00:17:45,367 he had seen that same suspect. 302 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:48,967 Dressed all in black. 303 00:17:48,967 --> 00:17:50,567 In the same parking lot. 304 00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:53,867 [Rafael] I didn't think anything of it, at the time. 305 00:17:54,467 --> 00:17:56,667 The attacker was watching me, 306 00:17:56,734 --> 00:18:00,667 and pre-meditated the entire thing. 307 00:18:00,667 --> 00:18:03,734 He put serious thought and effort into this. 308 00:18:08,867 --> 00:18:10,066 [whistles blows] 309 00:18:10,133 --> 00:18:11,567 [newscaster] Preparing for a big game isn't easy 310 00:18:11,634 --> 00:18:13,367 when you're focused on bigger issues. 311 00:18:13,367 --> 00:18:16,767 I go immediately to concern for the members of our team. 312 00:18:16,767 --> 00:18:19,567 [newscaster] The focus of that concern is on this guy, 313 00:18:19,634 --> 00:18:21,834 junior punter, Rafael Mendoza. 314 00:18:23,467 --> 00:18:25,867 There was a disbelief in the fact that 315 00:18:25,934 --> 00:18:28,166 I had a player that was injured in this manner. 316 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,367 [Salyers] Because of the information we had obtained, 317 00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:38,367 from Rafael Mendoza, 318 00:18:38,367 --> 00:18:42,467 that he had seen the attacker, four days earlier, 319 00:18:42,467 --> 00:18:45,734 it appeared that this was a pre-meditated crime. 320 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,066 At that point, the investigation became 321 00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:53,867 identifying who was 322 00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:56,066 possibly motivated to take down Rafael. 323 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,867 We started interviewing friends and acquaintances. 324 00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:05,967 And the entire 80-person football team. 325 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,567 Northern Colorado is new to the big sky under Scot Downing. 326 00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:14,634 This is his first Division One head coaching job. 327 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,967 Coach Downing had the challenge 328 00:19:19,033 --> 00:19:20,767 of suddenly being thrust 329 00:19:20,834 --> 00:19:25,967 into the middle of the American news cycle spotlight, 330 00:19:26,033 --> 00:19:30,867 where it had to be an immense distraction to the football team. 331 00:19:30,867 --> 00:19:34,000 You know, with interviews, 332 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:35,166 and the police having questions, 333 00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:37,266 and all the things that you have to go through 334 00:19:37,266 --> 00:19:38,767 while you're still trying to be 335 00:19:38,767 --> 00:19:41,533 a Division One football player, at the same time. 336 00:19:43,266 --> 00:19:46,867 That year, the team was a Division Two team 337 00:19:46,867 --> 00:19:49,567 transitioning to a I-AA team. 338 00:19:49,567 --> 00:19:52,467 As you go higher, there's more expectations. 339 00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:56,066 It just gets to be a little bit more intense. 340 00:19:56,066 --> 00:19:58,266 Before, the University of Colorado 341 00:19:58,333 --> 00:20:00,100 made the move to go Division One, 342 00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:02,867 they were very successful as a Division Two football team. 343 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,667 And Rafael was among the top 10 punters in school history. 344 00:20:08,734 --> 00:20:10,567 He really made a lot of himself. 345 00:20:10,634 --> 00:20:14,867 [Rafael] I came to UNC as a place kicker. 346 00:20:14,867 --> 00:20:18,100 That season, the special teams coach 347 00:20:18,100 --> 00:20:20,033 asked me if I'd be willing to punt. 348 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,767 [Downing] We talked about special teams. 349 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:28,867 Our most important special team was the punt team. 350 00:20:28,867 --> 00:20:33,066 The kickers will kick the ball off the tee on a kick-off. 351 00:20:33,066 --> 00:20:35,834 But everything's coming from stationery. Nothing's moving. 352 00:20:37,166 --> 00:20:40,967 So it's a little bit less technically oriented 353 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:42,667 than a punt. 354 00:20:42,734 --> 00:20:45,934 Because the punt is moving, the ball moves in the air, 355 00:20:47,166 --> 00:20:49,567 a punter has to be a really good athlete, 356 00:20:49,634 --> 00:20:51,667 because he's gotta be able to catch the ball 357 00:20:51,734 --> 00:20:54,967 and also be able to walk and punt the ball 358 00:20:55,033 --> 00:20:57,834 while everybody's rushing, trying to block the punt. 359 00:21:00,066 --> 00:21:01,567 [Rafael] Coach Downing was 360 00:21:01,634 --> 00:21:03,166 happy with my leg strength, 361 00:21:03,233 --> 00:21:05,967 but he basically told me that he was bringing in 362 00:21:06,033 --> 00:21:08,233 some competition for me, come fall. 363 00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:17,367 [Drehs] The idea, according to Coach Downey, 364 00:21:17,433 --> 00:21:21,000 was that the backup punters were gonna push Rafael, 365 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,100 and either take the job from him, 366 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:25,667 or push him to improve, to work harder, 367 00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:28,033 to be all that he can be as a punter. 368 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:31,967 [Downing] Zack Bigelow was one of our kickers. 369 00:21:32,033 --> 00:21:34,166 He was one of our specialists on our football team. 370 00:21:34,233 --> 00:21:36,166 He was a freshman, a new guy. 371 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,266 Mitch Cozad was a walk-on at the University of Wyoming, 372 00:21:41,266 --> 00:21:45,367 transferring to the University of Northern Colorado. 373 00:21:45,433 --> 00:21:48,567 There was a lot of technical things that he needed to work on, 374 00:21:48,567 --> 00:21:51,166 as did everybody. 375 00:21:51,166 --> 00:21:53,266 Michael York is pretty competitive. 376 00:21:53,333 --> 00:21:55,667 Always wanted to be the starter. 377 00:21:55,667 --> 00:21:58,166 And he was... He was decent at punting. 378 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:02,867 So, the punters and kickers got along very well. 379 00:22:02,867 --> 00:22:04,967 But they were competitive with each other. 380 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,567 The investigators asked me about my relationship 381 00:22:15,567 --> 00:22:17,667 with the other punters, and the kickers. 382 00:22:17,667 --> 00:22:19,867 I told them. I said, you know, "We had a good relationship." 383 00:22:19,934 --> 00:22:23,166 There was no bad blood between any of us. 384 00:22:23,166 --> 00:22:27,166 [Salyers] We determined that the kicker crew seemed very tight, 385 00:22:27,166 --> 00:22:28,567 very close. 386 00:22:28,634 --> 00:22:30,667 But, ultimately, 387 00:22:30,667 --> 00:22:33,967 it did come out, with some of the players we interviewed 388 00:22:33,967 --> 00:22:36,567 that between the kickers and punters, 389 00:22:36,567 --> 00:22:39,066 there was a lot of jealousy. 390 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:44,166 Northern Colorado made the move from Division Two to Division One. 391 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:49,233 And a move like that can put pressure on players. 392 00:22:50,367 --> 00:22:55,367 We live in this crazy, high pressure 393 00:22:55,367 --> 00:22:58,567 at early age sports culture. 394 00:22:58,567 --> 00:23:01,567 Many players don't know how to handle that. 395 00:23:01,567 --> 00:23:04,567 Look at Tonya Harding and Nany Kerrigan. 396 00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:11,066 The investigation was still in its very early stages. 397 00:23:11,133 --> 00:23:13,967 And we started trying to piece together 398 00:23:14,033 --> 00:23:17,567 if one of the backup kickers was involved in this incident. 399 00:23:17,634 --> 00:23:19,333 Because Rafael was the starting Kicker. 400 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:22,367 [Rafael] I didn't think it could have been 401 00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:25,033 anybody that I knew that would have stabbed me. 402 00:23:25,967 --> 00:23:29,166 You don't ever think that a teammate is capable 403 00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:32,166 of doing anything like this. And... 404 00:23:32,233 --> 00:23:34,834 So, anytime somebody asked me, I shot it down. 405 00:23:36,567 --> 00:23:39,367 [Ranous] During her interview with investigators, 406 00:23:39,433 --> 00:23:40,867 on the evening of the stabbing, 407 00:23:40,934 --> 00:23:43,100 Meghan reported she received a phone call 408 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:44,867 from the backup kicker, Michael York, 409 00:23:44,867 --> 00:23:46,867 while Rafael was at the hospital 410 00:23:48,066 --> 00:23:50,100 What was suspicious about that was 411 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:52,967 Michael York was calling to tell Rafael 412 00:23:53,033 --> 00:23:55,667 that a team meeting the following day was cancelled. 413 00:23:55,667 --> 00:23:58,867 Meghan told Michael that Rafael had been stabbed 414 00:23:58,867 --> 00:24:01,066 and Michael York had no reaction. 415 00:24:04,367 --> 00:24:07,367 I was surprised that he just wanted to relay his message 416 00:24:07,367 --> 00:24:09,634 and then that was the end of conversation. 417 00:24:10,767 --> 00:24:13,667 [Ranous] His behavior arose suspicion. 418 00:24:13,667 --> 00:24:16,266 So, Michael York was brought in for questioning. 419 00:24:17,900 --> 00:24:20,467 I was suspect of Michael York, 420 00:24:20,467 --> 00:24:22,967 because he did not wanna answer questions. 421 00:24:23,033 --> 00:24:26,934 He initially just denied any involvement. 422 00:24:27,767 --> 00:24:30,767 He was irritated that we were talking to him. 423 00:24:30,767 --> 00:24:33,367 He just wasn't very forthcoming. 424 00:24:33,367 --> 00:24:36,266 After about 40 minutes, he became irate, 425 00:24:36,333 --> 00:24:38,867 and said his time was being wasted. 426 00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:41,567 And he became very belligerent 427 00:24:41,567 --> 00:24:42,867 with the investigators, 428 00:24:42,867 --> 00:24:45,367 saying he had to leave and get to football practice, 429 00:24:45,367 --> 00:24:48,333 because he was gonna be the starting kicker in an upcoming game. 430 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,767 Michael York then called his father, 431 00:24:53,767 --> 00:24:55,867 who came to the Evans Police Department, 432 00:24:55,934 --> 00:24:59,166 and they ended up leaving without giving an interview, at that time. 433 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:10,667 But then, this case went in a direction that no one was expecting. 434 00:25:14,867 --> 00:25:17,100 My partner and I were advised 435 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:20,467 that on the night of Rafael Mendoza's attack, 436 00:25:20,467 --> 00:25:23,166 the employee at Knotty Pine Liquor Store 437 00:25:23,233 --> 00:25:24,767 had requested police 438 00:25:24,767 --> 00:25:28,166 because he noticed a Dodge Charger vehicle 439 00:25:28,166 --> 00:25:30,066 pulled into the lot, 440 00:25:30,066 --> 00:25:32,934 within a half an hour of the time of the stabbing. 441 00:25:35,166 --> 00:25:37,667 Two males exited the driver's side 442 00:25:37,734 --> 00:25:40,867 and the passenger side of the vehicle, 443 00:25:40,867 --> 00:25:44,100 both wearing dark clothing, hoodies, and so much 444 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:47,266 that they could only see partial of their face. 445 00:25:49,266 --> 00:25:53,467 The two males ran around the front and the back of the car 446 00:25:53,467 --> 00:25:57,467 and removed tape that was placed on the license plates. 447 00:25:57,467 --> 00:25:59,467 And when they removed the tape, 448 00:25:59,467 --> 00:26:02,767 the employee noticed the personalized plate, 449 00:26:02,767 --> 00:26:04,667 a Wyoming plate. 450 00:26:04,667 --> 00:26:10,734 And it stated 8-KIKR, for Eight Kicker. 451 00:26:19,867 --> 00:26:21,266 [Salyers] I was kinda wondering, 452 00:26:21,266 --> 00:26:26,867 if another teammate stabbed Rafael Mendoza. 453 00:26:26,867 --> 00:26:30,166 So, we were trying to find out who were the two men in black 454 00:26:30,233 --> 00:26:32,667 seen in the liquor store parking lot. 455 00:26:32,734 --> 00:26:37,967 Police agreed that the car was matching the suspect vehicle 456 00:26:37,967 --> 00:26:40,533 that was seen after Rafael Mendoza had been stabbed. 457 00:26:42,100 --> 00:26:45,567 We contacted the Wheatland Police Department, in Wyoming, 458 00:26:45,567 --> 00:26:50,000 to see if they can get ahold of the registered owner. 459 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,266 She seemed confused of what was going on, 460 00:26:53,266 --> 00:26:55,967 but did state that her son attended 461 00:26:55,967 --> 00:26:57,967 UNC in Greeley, Colorado. 462 00:26:57,967 --> 00:26:59,867 Mitchell Cozad. 463 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:05,767 I did tell Suzie Cozad 464 00:27:05,834 --> 00:27:08,367 you know, that there was a stabbing, 465 00:27:08,367 --> 00:27:10,433 and the other punter had been attacked. 466 00:27:12,767 --> 00:27:14,567 She gasped and said, "Oh, my God!" 467 00:27:14,634 --> 00:27:18,734 She wondered how her son may or may not be involved. 468 00:27:19,567 --> 00:27:22,000 After that phone call with Suzie Cozad, 469 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,233 I knew I wanted to talk to her son, Mitch Cozad. 470 00:27:30,967 --> 00:27:34,567 Mitch was taken in for what became a very lengthy interview. 471 00:27:35,500 --> 00:27:37,367 [Salyers] He was very polite. 472 00:27:37,367 --> 00:27:41,066 Very respectful, very cooperative. 473 00:27:41,133 --> 00:27:46,467 I wanted to get his version of why his vehicle was seen 474 00:27:46,467 --> 00:27:49,066 at the stabbing incident in Evans, Colorado, 475 00:27:49,133 --> 00:27:53,000 and then, a few minutes later, at the Knotty Pine Liquor Store 476 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:54,467 just down the road. 477 00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:59,166 Mitch told us that his second set of car keys had been stolen. 478 00:27:59,166 --> 00:28:01,667 And when he went to the parking lot, 479 00:28:01,667 --> 00:28:05,867 he felt that his vehicle had been moved. 480 00:28:05,867 --> 00:28:10,166 He kept denying being involved in an attack. 481 00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:16,100 At that time, he began giving a very detailed outline of where he was that evening, 482 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:20,333 that he was with his female acquaintance, at the time. 483 00:28:21,467 --> 00:28:24,266 [Salyers] At that point, we were advised that his mother, 484 00:28:24,266 --> 00:28:26,967 Suzie Cozad, had arrived on scene. 485 00:28:27,033 --> 00:28:32,767 We invited her in, and she sat next to her son, Mitch Cozad. 486 00:28:32,767 --> 00:28:37,266 Suzie Cozad said that they felt that, as a family, they needed an attorney. 487 00:28:37,266 --> 00:28:41,066 And we ended the interview at that time, with Mitchell Cozad. 488 00:28:44,266 --> 00:28:48,100 I met Mitch Cozad, really, when he and his mom 489 00:28:48,100 --> 00:28:51,266 came down on an unofficial visit in the summer. 490 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:58,667 I remember his mom was more involved than maybe she should be. 491 00:28:58,734 --> 00:29:02,100 She was at practices and watching him all the time, 492 00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:04,166 and things like that. 493 00:29:04,166 --> 00:29:06,967 We did learn in an interview with another UNC player 494 00:29:06,967 --> 00:29:08,567 that Mitch was given a hard time 495 00:29:08,567 --> 00:29:11,367 because his mother came to every practice at UNC. 496 00:29:11,433 --> 00:29:14,967 His mother seemed to be very controlling over him for his age. 497 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,667 Rafael would tell me that Mitch's mom 498 00:29:20,667 --> 00:29:23,166 would come to the practices from Wyoming, every day, 499 00:29:23,166 --> 00:29:25,567 just to come and watch him. 500 00:29:25,634 --> 00:29:26,734 I thought that was pretty odd. 501 00:29:28,967 --> 00:29:31,667 I had heard from coaches and players 502 00:29:31,667 --> 00:29:35,266 that Suzie Cozad was a demanding mom. 503 00:29:35,266 --> 00:29:38,266 Very involved with her son's football career. 504 00:29:38,266 --> 00:29:41,767 It appeared that she put a lot of pressure on Mitch. 505 00:29:41,767 --> 00:29:44,367 She wanted her son just to, kinda, be the best. 506 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,133 There are crazy parents, and then there was Suzie. 507 00:29:51,467 --> 00:29:53,967 That's not unusual in youth sports. 508 00:29:53,967 --> 00:29:58,967 The crazy parent is an all-too-true cliche. 509 00:29:59,033 --> 00:30:02,667 Suzie Cozad saw it as, "What is the end game? 510 00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:04,667 "I spent all this time, I spent all this money, 511 00:30:04,667 --> 00:30:06,233 why are you not a Division One punter?" 512 00:30:11,100 --> 00:30:13,767 [Rafael] After I got stabbed, 513 00:30:13,767 --> 00:30:15,867 on the way home from the hospital, 514 00:30:15,934 --> 00:30:19,767 my mom says "I don't wanna think this way 515 00:30:19,767 --> 00:30:23,667 but do you think it might have been the other punter?" 516 00:30:23,667 --> 00:30:26,634 And I right away shut her down. 517 00:30:28,166 --> 00:30:31,367 We were friendly. We got along. 518 00:30:31,367 --> 00:30:34,066 [Gregory] I didn't believe that it could have been Mitch 519 00:30:34,133 --> 00:30:36,967 just because the interactions that we had had with him 520 00:30:37,033 --> 00:30:38,533 had all been positive. 521 00:30:40,567 --> 00:30:45,166 [Salyers] Mitch Cozad's alibi was that he was with Angela all evening. 522 00:30:45,233 --> 00:30:47,433 His girlfriend, at the time. 523 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:52,066 We were able to speak to Angela, on campus. 524 00:30:52,567 --> 00:30:55,066 She was very forthcoming. 525 00:30:55,066 --> 00:30:58,867 She stated that she was with Mitchell Cozad, all evening. 526 00:30:58,867 --> 00:31:01,667 He hadn't left her sight. They just hung out in her room 527 00:31:01,667 --> 00:31:03,967 and watched a movie together. 528 00:31:03,967 --> 00:31:06,867 But as I started to ask more detailed questions, 529 00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:08,767 I noticed she was very uncomfortable. 530 00:31:08,767 --> 00:31:13,467 She seemed very uneasy about answering detailed information. 531 00:31:13,467 --> 00:31:16,166 So, I felt like I needed to push her, a little bit more. 532 00:31:16,233 --> 00:31:18,967 I explained the serious nature of the case, 533 00:31:19,033 --> 00:31:22,166 and that his vehicle had been seen by witnesses 534 00:31:22,233 --> 00:31:24,867 at two locations of the crime. 535 00:31:24,867 --> 00:31:28,367 Her demeanor drastically became different. 536 00:31:28,433 --> 00:31:30,634 And she stated, "I can't do this anymore." 537 00:31:32,166 --> 00:31:33,967 Angela realized 538 00:31:33,967 --> 00:31:35,767 she was in over her head. 539 00:31:35,767 --> 00:31:39,367 And so, she showed me text messages 540 00:31:39,367 --> 00:31:42,433 that Mitch Cozad had been sending her right then and there. 541 00:31:45,367 --> 00:31:46,767 [Ranous] During her interview, 542 00:31:46,834 --> 00:31:48,867 Mitch Cozad was texting her, 543 00:31:48,934 --> 00:31:50,967 asking what she was telling the police. 544 00:31:54,767 --> 00:31:58,867 One text said she was the one person that could stop all this. 545 00:31:58,867 --> 00:32:03,667 And he also tried calling her, at one point, as well. 546 00:32:03,667 --> 00:32:07,066 [Salyers] He would question, you know, "Ange, are you there?" 547 00:32:07,133 --> 00:32:09,066 "I love you." Those type of things. 548 00:32:09,133 --> 00:32:11,367 She became emotionally upset at that point 549 00:32:11,367 --> 00:32:15,367 because she just felt like he was completely manipulating her, 550 00:32:16,200 --> 00:32:18,967 to change her story to protect him. 551 00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:24,667 She eventually told me that Mitch Cozad had asked her to say 552 00:32:24,734 --> 00:32:26,266 that they were together all evening, 553 00:32:26,333 --> 00:32:28,266 but he was out of her sight 554 00:32:28,266 --> 00:32:32,367 approximately between 9:00 p.m. and 10:06 pm, 555 00:32:32,367 --> 00:32:37,667 which matched the timing of when Rafael Mendoza was attacked. 556 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,467 [Ranous] From there, Mitch Cozad was identified as a possible suspect. 557 00:32:48,467 --> 00:32:50,867 So, investigators then started 558 00:32:50,867 --> 00:32:52,567 trying to piece together 559 00:32:52,567 --> 00:32:54,066 who the second person was, 560 00:32:54,133 --> 00:32:56,467 seen in the suspicious vehicle. 561 00:32:56,467 --> 00:33:00,367 I was questioning if Michael York or Suzanne Cozad, 562 00:33:00,367 --> 00:33:02,667 or another individual were involved 563 00:33:02,667 --> 00:33:04,567 in some kind of coordinated effort 564 00:33:04,634 --> 00:33:06,000 to take down Rafael. 565 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:15,166 [Salyers] A few days after Rafael Mendoza had been stabbed, 566 00:33:15,166 --> 00:33:19,100 we were able to have the search warrant executed 567 00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:21,767 on Mitchell Cozad's phone. 568 00:33:21,767 --> 00:33:25,100 We noticed a definite pattern of him contacting a gentleman 569 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:27,867 by the name of Kevin Aussprung. 570 00:33:27,867 --> 00:33:31,667 [Ranous] What investigators learned was Kevin Aussprung and Mitch Cozad 571 00:33:31,734 --> 00:33:33,867 had constant communication 572 00:33:33,934 --> 00:33:35,467 via text message and phone calls 573 00:33:35,467 --> 00:33:38,133 in the days leading up to the stabbing event. 574 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:44,567 Kevin Aussprung, I'd met him once or twice, 575 00:33:44,567 --> 00:33:49,166 because he was somebody that lived with Mitch, in the dorms. 576 00:33:51,567 --> 00:33:53,467 I didn't really know him very well. 577 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:57,266 [Salyers] When we interviewed Kevin Aussprung, 578 00:33:57,333 --> 00:34:00,166 he basically stated, he didn't know anything, 579 00:34:01,700 --> 00:34:04,567 But then, when confronted on the fact 580 00:34:04,567 --> 00:34:07,166 that we knew he had been having a pattern of 581 00:34:07,166 --> 00:34:09,667 text messages and phone calls with Mitch, 582 00:34:09,667 --> 00:34:12,667 he, kind, of, whispered under his breath, at one point, 583 00:34:12,734 --> 00:34:14,433 like, "Damn." 584 00:34:18,066 --> 00:34:22,667 Kevin stated he agreed to help Mitch for $100. 585 00:34:22,667 --> 00:34:24,467 He was just asked by Mitch Cozad, 586 00:34:24,467 --> 00:34:27,567 to watch his car while he "took care of business". 587 00:34:27,567 --> 00:34:30,934 He said he didn't know what Mitch was going to do. 588 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:36,166 But Mitch had provided him all-black clothing to wear. 589 00:34:36,233 --> 00:34:39,133 Told him when to meet. Told him how to act. 590 00:34:40,300 --> 00:34:44,266 So it was important that we had his witness information 591 00:34:44,266 --> 00:34:48,266 and therefore, a deal was eventually worked out with Kevin Aussprung 592 00:34:48,333 --> 00:34:49,867 with our DA's office, 593 00:34:49,867 --> 00:34:53,166 to testify against Mitch Cozad. 594 00:34:53,233 --> 00:34:57,266 [Ranous] Michael York, one of the backup kickers did come back in for questioning 595 00:34:57,333 --> 00:34:59,867 and gave a statement about where he was, 596 00:34:59,934 --> 00:35:02,567 and investigators were ultimately able 597 00:35:02,634 --> 00:35:04,834 to show that he was not involved. 598 00:35:05,767 --> 00:35:07,000 [Salyers] It was very apparent, 599 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,266 Mitch Cozad had been planning this for a long time. 600 00:35:10,333 --> 00:35:12,166 And we needed evidence. 601 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:17,767 After Suzie Cozad had requested that they get an attorney, 602 00:35:17,767 --> 00:35:22,266 Mr. Cozad agreed to a cursory search of his dorm room. 603 00:35:22,266 --> 00:35:25,634 We found a black hooded sweatshirt. 604 00:35:26,967 --> 00:35:30,834 At that time, he was handcuffed and taken into custody. 605 00:35:32,166 --> 00:35:34,567 He was charged with attempted murder 606 00:35:34,634 --> 00:35:36,033 and second degree assault. 607 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:43,667 [Salyers] Ultimately, we determined that Suzie Cozad 608 00:35:43,734 --> 00:35:45,934 was not part of the case. 609 00:35:50,967 --> 00:35:53,066 I was in shock. I didn't wanna believe it. 610 00:35:53,667 --> 00:35:54,867 Um... 611 00:35:55,900 --> 00:35:57,266 I me... I mean... 612 00:35:57,266 --> 00:35:59,867 For one teammate to do that to another teammate, I just... 613 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,567 I could never imagine that anything like that was possible. 614 00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:13,033 I felt deflated. I'm like, "I can't believe this happens on a team." 615 00:36:13,767 --> 00:36:16,066 To say it was a shock was a mild word. 616 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:23,767 [Drehs] We were made aware, at ESPN, 617 00:36:23,767 --> 00:36:26,467 that the backup punter at Northern Colorado had attacked 618 00:36:26,467 --> 00:36:28,367 the starting punter 'cause he had wanted his job. 619 00:36:28,367 --> 00:36:31,166 And it was just this, like, crazy, crazy story. 620 00:36:31,166 --> 00:36:32,867 We don't hear stories like this. 621 00:36:33,867 --> 00:36:37,767 There's an unspoken agreement, a code, if you will, 622 00:36:37,767 --> 00:36:41,667 that you don't sabotage a teammate of yours. 623 00:36:41,734 --> 00:36:44,667 You don't go after someone who 624 00:36:44,667 --> 00:36:46,634 you sweat and bleed with in practice. 625 00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:50,100 [Rafael] I remember the first time I saw it on the news. 626 00:36:50,100 --> 00:36:53,266 And that's when I realized how big the story was. 627 00:36:55,567 --> 00:36:58,467 They compared it to Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. 628 00:36:58,533 --> 00:36:59,967 But they weren't teammates. 629 00:37:00,100 --> 00:37:01,467 You know, they were opponents. 630 00:37:01,467 --> 00:37:03,333 It's different when it's your own teammate. 631 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,567 I still remember like it was yesterday. 632 00:37:09,567 --> 00:37:11,533 That first practice at training camp. 633 00:37:12,266 --> 00:37:15,567 The first time I stepped up to punt, 634 00:37:15,634 --> 00:37:17,967 I was a little nervous, I was hesitant, 635 00:37:18,033 --> 00:37:20,767 and I kinda pulled back when I went to go follow through, 636 00:37:20,834 --> 00:37:22,266 and I shanked the ball. 637 00:37:22,266 --> 00:37:25,734 And I turned around, and he had this smirk on his face. 638 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:41,667 [Salyers] The defense's argument was that Kevin Aussprung 639 00:37:41,734 --> 00:37:43,667 stabbed Rafael Mendoza. 640 00:37:43,667 --> 00:37:46,567 The prosecution's response was 641 00:37:46,634 --> 00:37:50,066 that was impossible based on evidence, 642 00:37:50,133 --> 00:37:52,567 witness statements, victim statements. 643 00:37:53,867 --> 00:37:57,567 The trial was interesting. The mood, it was tense. 644 00:37:57,634 --> 00:37:59,667 We were in that courtroom. 645 00:37:59,734 --> 00:38:02,867 Mitch never changed his expression. 646 00:38:02,867 --> 00:38:05,734 Just staring at Rafael. 647 00:38:06,567 --> 00:38:09,066 I decided to look up and look at him, 648 00:38:09,066 --> 00:38:10,967 and he had a big, old smirk on his face. 649 00:38:11,033 --> 00:38:13,266 The same smirk from that first practice. 650 00:38:15,700 --> 00:38:18,934 That smirk haunted me for a long time. 651 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:29,367 [jury foreman] We, the jury, find the defendant, Mitchel Cooper Cozad, 652 00:38:29,367 --> 00:38:32,066 guilty of assault in the second degree. 653 00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:36,767 Mitch Cozad was eventually convicted of second degree assault, 654 00:38:36,767 --> 00:38:38,467 with a violent crime enhancer. 655 00:38:38,467 --> 00:38:40,667 There was not enough testimonial evidence 656 00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:43,266 to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt 657 00:38:43,266 --> 00:38:45,233 that it was attempted murder. 658 00:38:47,266 --> 00:38:49,567 [Rafael] From what the DA explained to me, 659 00:38:49,634 --> 00:38:51,767 the fact that nobody was there, 660 00:38:51,767 --> 00:38:55,567 to see him lunge at my torso, and my upper body, 661 00:38:55,567 --> 00:38:59,066 to see him swipe with the knife, 662 00:38:59,133 --> 00:39:02,467 there was no... No way of proving it. 663 00:39:02,533 --> 00:39:06,033 That's why it was "not guilty" for the attempted murder. 664 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:18,867 After I got stabbed, 665 00:39:18,867 --> 00:39:22,934 I wanted to be back on the field, 666 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:26,767 But I was forc... I was forcing myself through it 667 00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:28,233 and dealing with the pain. 668 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:34,834 After college, I completely stopped punting. 669 00:39:35,467 --> 00:39:38,066 To this day, Mitch has not... 670 00:39:39,266 --> 00:39:40,567 apologized. 671 00:39:40,567 --> 00:39:42,133 He has not... 672 00:39:42,567 --> 00:39:44,233 owned up to what he did. 673 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,100 To show no remorse for something like that, 674 00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:50,567 it just... It's shocking to me. 675 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,767 I believe that the reason why I'm still here, 676 00:40:15,834 --> 00:40:18,767 is for my family. 677 00:40:19,767 --> 00:40:22,133 I'm lucky enough to have one. 678 00:40:22,900 --> 00:40:25,066 I was 21, at the time. 679 00:40:26,266 --> 00:40:28,233 I never would have gotten married. 680 00:40:29,266 --> 00:40:30,834 Never would have had kids. 681 00:40:32,567 --> 00:40:35,166 [Gregory] Our children do know bits and pieces 682 00:40:35,166 --> 00:40:37,767 about what happened to Rafael. 683 00:40:37,834 --> 00:40:42,166 I always think about what if he wasn't around, 684 00:40:42,233 --> 00:40:44,934 and how life could be a lot different. 685 00:40:46,300 --> 00:40:48,266 [Rafael] My life is great. 686 00:40:48,266 --> 00:40:51,367 You know, I came out a better man, afterwards. 687 00:40:51,367 --> 00:40:54,233 I chose to take what happened to me 688 00:40:55,166 --> 00:40:59,367 and build a life, despite of it. 689 00:40:59,367 --> 00:41:01,667 The most important thing in my life are my kids. 690 00:41:02,367 --> 00:41:03,567 I get to come home to them every day. 691 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:13,367 Announcer: The incomperable Marching 100! 692 00:41:13,433 --> 00:41:15,066 There's a unique relationship 693 00:41:15,066 --> 00:41:18,767 that HBCU band has with football. 694 00:41:18,767 --> 00:41:21,266 We got a call from the band director 695 00:41:21,266 --> 00:41:22,867 and he said Robert was no longer with us. 696 00:41:22,867 --> 00:41:25,567 Everybody was trying to cover their butts right now. 697 00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:28,567 There was a lot of deception because we were involved 698 00:41:28,567 --> 00:41:30,200 in something that was illegal.