MISSING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CENTRAL TO SHILO SANDERS BANKRUPTCY TRIAL

The bankruptcy trial of Shilo Sanders concluded last Friday with the presiding judge, Michael E. Romero, yet to issue his decision. A central issue in the case concerns surveillance footage of a 2015 confrontation between Sanders and John Darjean, a former Texas secondary school security guard, which resulted in an $11.89 million civil judgment against Sanders. Judge Romero stated during the trial that "it just appears real obvious that there is some missing video that no one seems to have been able to find."

Darjean testified that surveillance footage of the incident existed but has since gone missing. According to his testimony, the footage was later given to Deion Sanders, Shilo's father. During a prior deposition, Deion Sanders testified about obtaining video of the incident, stating: "someone slipped and gave, not slipped, but they manipulated and gave us the video." When asked whether someone had provided the footage "on the down low," Deion Sanders agreed. Two camera angles from the incident survive: one from inside the school gym showing the beginning of the encounter, and another from a lobby camera capturing the end. Darjean has characterised the missing third camera angle as having been "stolen."

Judge Romero identified the missing footage as potentially the "best" evidence for the trial, noting that it covered the critical seconds between the two surviving clips—the exact moment where accounts of the confrontation diverge. Darjean claims Shilo attacked him; Shilo's account differs. The judge acknowledged that under legal rules, missing video can be excused only if it cannot be found. The decision on whether to discharge the judgment remains pending.