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A father's grief: James Dungy 1987-2005

911 tape: Dungy was found hanged

The girlfriend told dispatchers that she used a knife to cut the 18-year-old down.

By KEVIN GRAHAM and SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published January 5, 2006

TAMPA - Antoinette Anderson's voice shook through sobs and tears as she called 911, begging for help.

"I think my boyfriend's dead," she told an emergency dispatcher. "I think he tried to hang himself or something."

It was about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 22. Anderson had just returned to the Lutz apartment of James Dungy, the 18-year-old son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, after a 10-minute walk.

She told the dispatcher she found Dungy hanging by a leather belt and used a knife to cut him down.

The 911 tape, released Wednesday by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, is the first official indication that Dungy died by hanging. The Sheriff's Office is awaiting the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's report for a final determination on the cause of Dungy's death.

The nearly five-minute tape also reveals that Dungy's roommate was in the apartment in another room, unaware of what had happened.

"Get the roommate up," the dispatcher told Anderson. "You're gonna need some help here, okay?"

The squeaking sound of a bedroom door opening is followed by Anderson speaking to the unidentified male roommate.

"I think he's dead, like for real," she told him. "And I'm on the phone with 911."

The two knelt next to Dungy, whom Anderson had laid flat on his back on the floor.

At the dispatcher's request, they checked Dungy's throat for obstructions but found nothing.

"His stomach's not moving," the roommate said.

"No. He's not moving," repeated Anderson.

"We're gonna tell you how to do mouth-to-mouth, okay?" the dispatcher said.

The dispatcher took Anderson through CPR, one step at a time, while trying to talk over her crying and heavy breathing.

"Force two deep breaths of air into the lungs just like you're blowing up a big balloon," the dispatcher said. "Did you do that?"

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

"Did you feel air going in?" the dispatcher asked.

Anderson replied, "No. No."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said a deputy soon arrived and began CPR on Dungy until a fire rescue crew arrived and transported him to University Community Hospital.

There, doctors pronounced Dungy dead.

Carter said investigators won't release the name of Dungy's roommate because the investigation is incomplete.

Dick Bailey, office manager for the medical examiner, said the results of tissue and toxicology tests have not been completed. Results usually take four to six weeks from the time of death.

After Dungy's death, thousands rallied around Tony and Lauren Dungy and their four other children: daughters Tiara and Jade and sons Eric and Jordan. Many struggled to understand why the son of such a popular NFL coach, known for his strong religious faith and putting family first, would take his own life.

Exactly what happened the night James Dungy killed himself still remains a mystery to the public. Anderson has declined to speak with reporters.

At James Dungy's wake, the day after Christmas, his parents stood in front of his cherry casket at the funeral home and greeted each person who offered condolences.

For nearly four hours, they accepted hugs, offered humble "thank yous" and shed tears. More than 2,000 people showed up.

Nearly the same number attended James Dungy's funeral the next day at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz.

The Indianapolis Colts, which Tony Dungy now coaches, arrived by chartered plane. Past and present Bucs showed up, including Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer.

Another recently released 911 tape involving James Dungy gave listeners insight into what happened one night in October when the 18-year-old called emergency dispatch to say he had overdosed.

"I was being stupid and I took about 15 pills," James Dungy told 911 on Oct. 21. "And my mom told me to call you guys so I can get my stomach pumped."

James Dungy told the dispatcher that he took four hydrocodone pills that night and "a bunch" of others, possibly naproxen, but he wasn't sure.

Hydrocodone is an addictive narcotic used for pain relief, and naproxen is the anti-inflammatory ingredient found in Aleve.

James Dungy also told authorities that night that he was depressed.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 01:29:02]