The murder of Patrick Dennehy, an American college basketball player for Baylor University, occurred on June 12, 2003, when he was shot by teammate Carlton Dotson.

[1] The murder set off a chain of events which led to a broader scandal in which Baylor's basketball program was investigated and punished for numerous infractions by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The search for Dennehy continued until July 25, when a badly decomposed body was found in a gravel pit near Waco and was taken to Dallas for an autopsy.

Whereas sensationalized news reports indicated Dennehy was decapitated, investigators believe this occurrence is most likely the result of scavenging desert animals.

[11] Subsequent to his August 2003 indictment,[12] on October 28, 2004, Dotson was declared incompetent to stand trial by District Judge George Allen and was sent to a state mental hospital to be reevaluated in four months' time.

Three psychiatrists, including one appointed by the court, said that Dotson appeared to be suffering from hallucinations and psychosis, but that he could regain competency to stand trial in the future.

"[15] The day Dennehy's body was identified, Baylor University president Robert B. Sloan made a speech to the public where he described the discovery as having the community's "worst fears being realized" and that it was a heart-wrenching loss.

[16] There was a charity event held by Bill Cosby on September 4, 2003, at the Floyd Casey Stadium where he mentioned Dennehy when discussing people that had been lost throughout the year.