Empty trip

Family's visit produces few answers and no body

Dennehy Developments July 31: Attorney questions paper's interview 31: De La Rosa doubts Dotson's claim 30: Dotson suggests self-defense 30: Autopsy: Dennehy died of gunshot 29: Funeral set for mid-August 28: Baylor grieving over Dennehy's death From SI: Scorecard: Arresting developments

Above: Dennehy/AP

WACO, Texas (AP) -- In a rental truck filled with Patrick Dennehy's clothes and furniture, the dejected family of the missing Baylor basketball player left Waco on Friday with few answers about his disappearance more than a month ago.

His mother and stepfather, Valorie and Brian Brabazon, appeared tired and sad as they walked out of the Waco Police Department on Friday after a three-hour meeting with a detective before driving back to their Carson City, Nev., home. They said the meeting went well but would not discuss specifics about the investigation.

"He just clarified more that they are doing their jobs, and they are still on the case and for us not to be worried about it," Valorie Brabazon said. "... We still have hope our son is out there alive. We're not going to give up hope ever."

Carlton Dotson, who played basketball at Baylor last season and had been living with Dennehy since April, has been charged with murder. Dotson, 21, remained jailed without bond in his home state of Maryland. An extradition hearing is set for Aug. 19.

Waco police have called off the search for Dennehy, 21, until Dotson can return to Texas and lead them to the body, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday, citing an unidentified police source.

Waco Police Chief Alberto Melis said Friday that he did not know anything about the search. Sgt. Ryan Holt said in a statement that there were no developments Friday.

In a separate matter, Baylor's three-member compliance investigation committee is looking into whether the men's basketball program violated NCAA rules by making improper payments to Dennehy, university officials announced Friday.

The allegations came to light from media reports that a Baylor coach told Dennehy his education and living expenses would be paid if he gave up his scholarship.

Dotson's estranged wife, Melissa Kethley, told The Dallas Morning News for a story in Saturday's editions that there were other problems with the men's basketball team.

She said Dotson told her that he often got cash from his assistant coaches. She also told the newspaper she witnessed Dotson fake a drug test and that Dotson and Dennehy were among three players she drove to get tested at a Waco clinic after a team-ordered urine test came back positive for illicit drug use.

Baylor athletic spokesman Scott Stricklin declined to comment Friday on Kethley's allegations.

On Friday morning, Dennehy's relatives toured the Baptist-affiliated Baylor campus for the first time.

The Brabazons, their teenage daughter Wynn and Dennehy's girlfriend Jessica De La Rosa walked through the 10,300-seat arena, onto the basketball court and in the locker room with athletic director Tom Stanton.

"It was a little emotional seeing Patrick's locker," Brian Brabazon said, adding Dennehy's name was still on the locker door.

Dennehy never played in Baylor's gold-dome Ferrell Center, which is across the street from his apartment. Dennehy sat out last season after transferring last year from New Mexico, as mandated by NCAA rules.

Dennehy's family had been in Waco since Tuesday night, the day after Dotson was arrested.

"We were hoping for some type of closure, but we knew there would be some loose ends. We were hoping for the best, but we weren't expecting it," Brian Brabazon said.

Dennehy was last seen on campus June 12; his family reported him missing June 19. The next day, Delaware police told Waco authorities that an informant said Dotson told someone he shot Dennehy in the head after the two argued.

Dennehy's vehicle was found without license plates in a Virginia Beach, Va., mall parking lot June 25.

The Brabazons have accused Baylor coaches of not responding soon enough after Dennehy didn't show up for practice or class. They also say the athletic department did nothing when Dennehy reported that he had been threatened and that another team member stole money from him.

Head coach Dave Bliss has repeatedly denied that Dennehy told them about any threats. Brian Brabazon said Stanton didn't answer many of his questions about the situation.

"I don't want to say he's out of touch. It probably hasn't filtered up to his level," Brabazon said.