WACO, Texas (BP)–The faculty and student body of Baylor University are still praying for the safe return of basketball player Patrick James Dennehy, who has been missing for more than two weeks.
When Dennehy, a speech communications major from Santa Clara, Calif., failed to call home on Father’s Day, June 15, his mother, Valorie Brabazon, and stepfather Brian Brabazon became concerned. Their fears escalated when Dennehy’s girlfriend in Albuquerque, N.M., called looking for him, and they began to contact his friends. They reported his disappearance to authorities June 19.
In a statement read at a news conference July 1, Baylor University President Robert B. Sloan Jr. said, “These have been difficult circumstances, most notably for Brian and Valorie Brabazon, Patrick Dennehy Sr. and the other family members and friends of Patrick Dennehy. We want to, first and foremost, continue to remember these individuals in our thoughts and prayers. As a Christian community whose faith and hope are in our Lord, we remain steadfast in our prayers for Patrick’s safe return.”
Dennehy’s friends described him as a quiet person. A professor, John Cunningham, spoke of him as a good student who was very personable. The Baylor junior, a 6’10”, 230 pound forward for the team, was described by head basketball coach Dave Bliss as, “a true gem since coming to our program,” and “a young man we respect.” He was not eligible to play for a year, having accepted the Baylor scholarship in May 2002, but practiced with the team and sat on the bench during games.
Dennehy previously played two seasons at the University of New Mexico, but had been cut from that team after losing his temper at a game. Dennehy told friends at Baylor that he had become a born-again Christian.
Dennehy’s 1996 Chevy Tahoe was discovered last week in a shopping center parking lot in Virginia Beach, Va., stripped of its license plates. According to Jimmy Barnes, the media relations officer of the Virginia Beach Police Department, the vehicle was likely in the lot for at least three days before the shop owner called to have it towed.
Before his disappearance, Dennehy allegedly expressed fears to friends and coaches that someone was out to get him.
However, the Baylor coaching staff denies that Dennehy informed them of any fears for his safety.
“As a coaching staff, we are always in regular communication with our players,” Bliss said in a statement July 2. “Members of my staff met and had frequent contact with Patrick in the days leading up to his disappearance. At no time did Patrick say anything about safety concerns or personal threats.”
Dennehy and a roommate, Carlton Dotson, concerned about threats to their safety, had acquired handguns for protection. On June 10 Dennehy and Dotson were seen firing guns on some Waco farmland, according to newspaper reports.
Dotson became “a person of interest” to authorities when an unnamed informant in Delaware reported that Dennehy had been shot in the head with a handgun by a former teammate after the two argued, per court documents released June 30. The informant said that Dotson told a cousin about the shooting. After the shooting the informant said Dotson drove home to Hurlock, Md., and got rid of the guns along the way.
An owner of the farmland reported seeing Dennehy and Dotson together in Dennehy’s car June 12. Daniel Okopnyi, a friend of Dennehy’s, spoke with him June 14. Okopnyi said Dennehy told him “someone is out to get me.” Okopnyi also told newspaper reporters that the alleged threat did not come from Dotson.
A statement released by the Waco Police Department June 27 said, “One of the potential leads that investigators have been following is that Dennehy was the victim of a homicide in the Waco area.”
About 50 acres of farmland north of Waco have been searched, and authorities found shell casings but nothing indicating a homicide. No body has been discovered and no charges have been filed. Authorities said July 1 that they have no single suspect in the case.
“There’s still a glimmer of hope Mr. Dennehy will show up and say, ‘Hey, this is where I’ve been the whole time,'” said Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson.
In an interview on “Good Morning America” July 1, Dennehy’s mother expressed the same hope.
“Our son is still alive, and we’re keeping a positive attitude about it and keeping our hopes up. And we know God is with him,” she said.
Baylor University is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and is the largest Baptist university in the world.
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