Missing Athlete's Roommate Interviewed by Deputies Near His Home

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – A former Baylor University (search) basketball player contacted the sheriff's office near his home Thursday so he could talk to authorities about the mysterious disappearance of one-time teammate Patrick Dennehy (search).

Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips Jr. said Carlton Dotson (search) met Thursday evening at the sheriff's office with a detective and an FBI agent "of his own free will."

"There will be no charges based on what happened here tonight," Phillips said about 8 p.m., after announcing Dotson had finished talking.

"He claimed that he wanted to make a statement," Phillips had said earlier in the evening. "We're basically listening." He said the officers did not interview or question Dotson, who was alone.

The sheriff refused to elaborate on Dotson's statement. He said Dotson's high school basketball coach picked him up at the sheriff's office after Dotson had finished.

Dennehy, Dotson's former roommate at the University in Waco, Texas, has not been seen since mid-June. His Chevrolet Tahoe was found abandoned June 25 in a Virginia Beach, Va., parking lot.

Police have named Dotson a "person of interest" in the case. An unidentified informant reported to Delaware police that Dotson told his cousin he shot Dennehy in the head when the two argued while firing guns near Waco, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Dotson was interviewed earlier by a Waco detective shortly after Dennehy's SUV was found. Later, Irvin said his client would not speak to police again without a court order.

Dotson's family lives just outside Hurlock. The 21-year-old returned home last month.

Phillips said Dorchester County authorities would inform Waco police, who are investigating Dennehy's disappearance, about the substance of Dotson's statement.

"Hopefully, they'll give us a direction they wish us to take," Phillips said.

Sgt. Ryan Holt, a Waco police spokesman, said he had no further details on the interview. He said a police news conference was scheduled for Friday morning.

Dotson's attorney, Grady Irvin Jr., confirmed his client had contacted the sheriff's office "on his own initiative."

"Our office is unaware of what Mr. Dotson will say to authorities, but a family relative has stated that Carlton has not slept for several days," Irvin said in a news release.

"We are not aware of any wrongdoing which has taken place on his part in relation to the disappearance of Patrick Dennehy," Irvin said, adding, "It appears that Carlton has opted not to have counsel present."

Dennehy's girlfriend, Jessica De La Rosa, said Thursday she was pleased to hear Dotson was talking to authorities. "Carlton probably holds the key to a lot of doors right now," she said from her home in New Mexico.

De La Rosa last spoke with Dotson after Dennehy disappeared, but before his disappearance was made public. In that conversation, she said she knew "he was scared of something," although he wouldn't say of what or whom.

"I just kind of had the impression that he knows more than he's been telling," she said. "I think it was really eating on him so much. If he can help us find Patrick, that's what we want."