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Hanging revealed in 911 tape

In a 911 call, James Dungy's girlfriend describes cutting him free from a belt he apparently used to hang himself.

By TIMES STAFF
Published January 4, 2006

Hillsborough County sheriff's officials on Wednesday released a copy of the 911 call made from the apartment of James Dungy, on the morning of his apparent suicide Dec. 22. The call was made by Dungy's girlfriend Antoinette Anderson. Dungy, 18, was the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy.

The following is a transcript of the call:

911: 911, what's your emegergency?

Antoinette Anderson: Yes, I think my boyfriend's dead. He's laying down on the ground and I don't know if he's breathing.

911: Okay, let me connect you to EMS. Just a minute.

Anderson: Hello?

911: Stay on the line, ma'am. I'm connecting you to EMS (ringing)

EMS dispatcher: Ma'am, tell me exactly what happened.

Anderson: I walked into my apartment and my boyfriend, I guess ... I think he tried to hang himself or something.

EMS: Okay, are you with him now?

Anderson: Yes, but he's not moving and he's laying down on the ground. And, because I cut it down with a knife.

EMS: Okay, hang on one second, ma'am. Okay, ma'am.

(Another dispatcher comes on)

Dispatcher: Okay, did you cut him down?

Anderson: Yes.

Dispatcher: And you said, you said he's not conscious?

Anderson: Like, one of his eyes is open, but I don't know.

Dispatcher: Okay, is he breathing at all?

Anderson: I don't know, I'm trying to tell. I thought I heard a heartbeat but like I can't tell.

Dispatcher: Okay, do you have an apartment number? What is your apartment number?

Anderson: It's 101.

Dispatcher: 101, okay. Ma'am?

Anderson: Yes.

Dispatcher: Ma'am? Okay, did you cut him down?

Anderson: Yes.

Dispatcher: Okay, what did he hang himself with?

Anderson: A belt, it was like a leather belt.

Dispatcher: Okay. Alright. Is there anybody else there with you?

Anderson: Yes, his roommate. But his roommate is in the other room. I don't even know if he knows.

Dispatcher: Well, get the roommate up. You're gonna need some help here, okay? And come right back to the phone.

(door opens).

Anderson, to unidentified roommate: I think he's dead, like for real, and I'm on the phone with 911.

Anderson, to dispatcher: Hello?

Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am. Ma'am, what's the name of the apartment? Okay, you've got somebody with you?

Anderson, to roommate: He's laying down

Dispatcher: Okay, you have to get him on the back, on his floor, on a hard surface. On his back, on the floor, on a hard surface.

Anderson: He's on his back. (she starts talking to roommate)

Dispatcher: Ma'am, you need to listen to me, okay?

Anderson: Yes.

Dispatcher: OK, I need you to get down, lay him down, flat on his back, no pillow under his head.

Anderson: He's laying down

Dispatcher: Now kneel down next to him, have somebody kneel down, look in his mouth and see if there's any vomit or anything.

Anderson to roommate: He said to see if there's vomit in the mouth.

Dispatcher: He's got vomit?

Anderson: It looks like...

Roommate: I don't see anything.

Dispatcher: Okay, the guy said he didn't see anything?

Anderson: No.

Roommate: His stomach's not moving.

Anderson: No. He's not moving.

Dispatcher: Okay, now what I need you to do, we're going to tell you how to breathe for him until we get there. Okay, tell the man to place his hand on his forehead, the other hand under the neck and tilt the head back.

Anderson (crying): Hello? Hello?

Dispatcher: Ma'am, okay, are you gonna do that? Put one hand under his neck, the other on his forehead, tilt the head back. Put your ear down next to his mouth and make sure, see if you hear or feel any breathing at all.

Anderson: I don't hear anything.

Dispatcher: Okay, we're gonna tell you how to do mouth to mouth, okay? You listening? Okay, is somebody doing this?

Anderson: Yes.

Dispatcher: Okay, with the head tilted back, pinch the nose closed and completely cover your mouth over his. Force two depp breaths of air into the lungs just like you're blowing up a big balloon. Okay? Go ahead and do that.

Anderson: Okay.

Dispatcher: Did you do that?

Anderson: Yes, I just don't think he's alive.

Dispatcher: Did you feel the air going in?

Anderson: No. No.

[Last modified January 4, 2006, 20:12:15]