SPECIAL: Basketball Murders
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Why are basketball-related murders being discussed?
This is Crime House. Since its founding in 1946, the National Basketball Association has grown to become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. With millions of fans and billions of dollars at play, the stakes are high, and the competition is fierce. Every year, thousands of college players fight for their dreams of going pro. And there's one surefire way to get an NBA team's attention, crushing it during March Madness. For those who make the cut, it might seem like a fairy tale. But a lot of the time, the reality of being an athlete is much darker than anyone knows. And in some cases, it's even deadly. People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end.
But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories, a Crime House original. Every Tuesday, I'll explore the story of a notorious murder or murders. I'll be bringing awareness to stories that need to be heard with a focus on those who are impacted. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly matters. And for ad-free and early access to murder true crime stories, plus exciting Crime House bonus content, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Before we get started, you should know this episode includes graphic discussions of murder. Listener discretion is advised. With March Madness kicking off, this one-part special is highlighting two notorious basketball-related murders, one from the world of college basketball and one from the NBA.
Who was Patrick Dennehy and what happened to him?
First, we'll dive into the disappearance and murder of 21-year-old Patrick Dennehy, a promising young player with dreams of going pro. In the summer of 2003, he transferred to the Baylor University Bears. But before he could play a single game, he vanished. The winding investigation led detectives to a shocking discovery that involved the university's head coach. After that, we'll move to the murder of 34-year-old Lorenzen Wright, who played for several NBA teams but was retired at the time of his death. In the wake of Lorenzen's murder in 2010, detectives searched far and wide for his killer. After nearly a decade, they arrested several people, and it turned out the mastermind was closer to home than anyone ever thought possible.
All that and more, coming up. I've got some exciting news. Crime House Studios is launching a new original show called Killer Minds. Hosted by licensed forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels and Crime House's Vanessa Richardson, each episode features a deep dive into the psychology of a notorious murderer. From serial killers to cult leaders, deadly exes, and spree killers. Killer Minds is a Crime House Studios original. New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts. By the mid-1990s, the Baylor University men's basketball team was floundering. In the nearly 50 years since the school's program was established, they'd only had one March Madness appearance.
By 1999, the Waco, Texas-based team was desperate for a change, so they searched for a new coach. They had their eyes on Dave Bliss, who had had success with the Southern Methodist and New Mexico University men's basketball teams. That year, Baylor awarded him a whopping five-year, $3 million contract, making Bliss one of the highest-paid coaches in the Big 12 Conference. But even with Dave Bliss at the helm, the team continued to struggle. After a mediocre 2002-2003 season, Bliss knew he needed to find more talented players. So besides recruiting better high school seniors, he looked for college athletes willing to transfer from other schools. One of those students was Patrick Dennehy. By the time 21-year-old Patrick came to Baylor in the summer of 2003, he was hoping for a fresh start. Born and raised in Santa Clara, California, Patrick had always dreamed of going pro. Unfortunately, he wasn't recruited by any of the major teams like Duke or Kentucky out of high school. Instead, he hoped his path to the NBA would begin at a smaller school, the University of New Mexico.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why are basketball-related murders being discussed?
0:06–2:33
2
Who was Patrick Dennehy and what happened to him?
2:33–10:09
3
How was Carlton Dotson involved in Patrick Dennehy's murder?
10:09–18:17
4
What was the scandal involving Baylor University's basketball program?
18:17–24:50
5
How did the legal proceedings unfold for Carlton Dotson?
24:50–48:15