Bison Dele's Mother Planning Memorial
Investigators Discontinue Search For Bodies
UPDATED: 2:10 p.m. EDT September 25, 2002

The mother of Bison Dele is planning a joint memorial service for her two sons, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The older brother of the missing ex-Detroit Pistons player remains in a coma in a California hospital, but may be taken off life-support equipment, according to his mother Patricia Phillips.

It is now believed police will never be able to talk to Dabord, 35, about what he knows concerning the disappearance of Dele and two other people aboard Dele's 55-foot catamaran. Phillips said that doctors told her that Dabord has significant brain damage from an insulin overdose and not taking required asthma medication, she told the newspaper.

WHERE'S BISON?
Web site devoted to finding Bison Dele and Serena Karlan

Dabord was found comatose near the California-Mexico border. He was taken to a California hospital on Sept. 15, and was arrested on a fraud charge when fingerprints identified him as the man who was the subject of an intensive FBI search, according to the newspaper. Dabord, also known as Kevin Williams, was also charged with fleeing arrest.

Authorities say that Dabord was traveling with Dele and and Dele's girlfriend, Serena Karlan. One of the boat's crew members is also missing. They were last heard from on July 8.

Meanwhile, investigators have stopped the search for the three missing people. Officials said they have given up their search because of the depth of the ocean floor and because it is infested with sharks, according to an Associated Press report.

Phillips has not set a date for the memorial and will not say when Dabord will be taken off life-support equipment.

"I don't want a media circus around us on the day my son's life ends," she told the paper.

The FBI says Dabord was found last Saturday night and taken to a San Diego area hospital, but wasn't identified until Thursday.

Dabord (pictured, right) was arrested, according to the newspaper report, after arriving at a Phoenix bank and allegedly identifying himself as his brother. Police questioned him but later released him because there was not enough evidence to press charges, they said.

Dele changed his name from Brian Williams to celebrate his American Indian ancestry. He played for several NBA teams including the Chicago Bulls' 1996-97 championship team. He abruptly quit basketball while playing for the Detroit Pistons in 1999.

Case information courtesy of TheSanDiegoChannel.com Thanks to Douglas for emailing this article to me.