Darryl Dawkins’ Estranged Wife, 28, Found Dead in the New Jersey Home of Her Parents

TRENTON, N.J. —  Police were investigating the death Sunday morning of the estranged wife of professional basketball player Darryl Dawkins.

Trenton police said Kelly Barnes Dawkins, 28, died between midnight Saturday and 11:45 a.m. Sunday. Mrs. Dawkins, whose family lives in Trenton, was pronounced dead on arrival at 12:26 p.m. Sunday at Mercer Medical Center.

Dawkins, who was traded by the New Jersey Nets to the Utah Jazz on Oct. 8, was in Salt Lake City, where the team had two days off after completing its exhibition schedule, according to a Jazz spokesman.

Bill Kreifeldt said Dawkins had been informed of the death and was remaining in his hotel room. Kreifeldt said he believed that the 6-11, 270-pound center planned to fly to New Jersey today.

Mrs. Dawkins’ father, William Barnes Sr., said his daughter had been staying with her mother and him for “the past several weeks” while Dawkins was in preseason training. He did not mention divorce proceedings. Mrs. Dawkins and Dawkins were married in September 1986.

Dawkins, 30, began his NBA career directly out of high school, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1975 until 1982, when he joined the Nets.