Foul play?

Police say basketball player Dennehy may have been killed

WACO, Texas (AP) -- Suspects in the disappearance of a Baylor basketball player who may be a homicide victim "potentially include fellow Baylor basketball players," police said Friday.

Patrick Dennehy, a 6-10, 230-pound center, has not been seen or heard from in more than two weeks.

While police have not found a body, department spokesman Steven Anderson said they "have received information from several sources that would lead investigators to believe that foul play was involved."

In a written statement, Anderson said police were looking into whether Dennehy may have been killed in the Waco area. A sport utility vehicle belonging to the 21-year-old Dennehy was found this week in Virginia Beach, Va.

"From that lead and others, potential suspects in the disappearance of Dennehy potentially include fellow Baylor basketball players," Anderson said. "Information about possible crime scenes are currently being investigated."

The statement did not elaborate on the possible connection of Baylor players to Dennehy's disappearance.

Baylor athletic director Tom Stanton issued a statement Friday night saying the university had just learned about the new developments in the police investigation.

"The nature of the developments is certainly disturbing," Stanton said. "It's impossible to respond at this moment until we learn more about the investigation.

"Our thoughts and prayers right now remain with Patrick's family and everyone in the Baylor University family. ... All we know now is there are more questions than answers. It's important at this moment that we not speculate."

Police records supervisor Tommy Tull said Friday night that he couldn't release any additional information and that Anderson was out of the office. Anderson plans a 4 p.m. CDT news briefing Monday on the case.

Virginia Beach police spokesman Jimmy Barnes said at least one Waco detective flew out Thursday to examine a Chevrolet Tahoe that had been abandoned in a Virginia Beach strip mall without its license plates. The mall's owner had towed it as an abandoned vehicle.

The towing company reported the vehicle's identification number to Virginia Beach police, Barnes said. Police then checked the number on a national law enforcement database and found it was wanted by Waco police in connection with a missing person's case.

Baylor coach Dave Bliss could not be reached for comment Friday night. Earlier this week, Bliss said the team remained hopeful that Dennehy would eventually turn up unharmed.

Dennehy, who played high school basketball in Santa Clara, Calif., sat out last season after transferring from the University of New Mexico and was expected to vie for playing time this fall. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Dennehy had an impressive but controversial two-year stint at New Mexico under former Lobos coach Fran Fraschilla.

Midway through his freshman season at New Mexico, Dennehy said he might transfer at year's end because of a lack of playing time. Dennehy eventually saw more action and became the third-leading freshman rebounder in school history.

As a sophomore in the 2001-2002 season, Dennehy averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, but his season was clouded by a number of problems. During a game against Air Force in February 2002, Dennehy argued on court with teammates, shoved a teammate, kicked over a chair and stalked off to the locker room. He didn't return to the game.

Fraschilla declined to discipline Dennehy, and the team doctor said Dennehy was being treated for "a confidential medical condition."

Fraschilla resigned under pressure in March 2002, and Ritchie McKay was hired later that month as the new Lobos coach. Less than two weeks later, Dennehy had another flare-up during workouts and McKay dismissed him from the team.

A month later, Dennehy announced he had accepted a scholarship to play for Bliss, a former UNM coach.

 

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