Bison Dele was a professional center who won the NBA championship with the Bulls in 1997 and was supposedly murdered by his older brother Miles Dabord in 2002, along with his girlfriend, Serena Karlan, and boat captain, Bertrand Saldo.
The unfortunate happened in 2002, and yet people still search about Dele and his disappearance more than two decades later in 2023.
Dele played with several NBA teams throughout his career, including Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Orlando Magic.
Being the one-time NBA Champion, Bison was loved by the public for his playing skills and his irreplaceable personality.
He was the man with the most inspiring nature, who never hung on to fame and money.
He was always in seek of a purpose to live. As a result, he retired at the peak of his career.
After his retirement, he began living the way he wanted by traveling and more.
But did he ever return from his trip? To know more, let’s scroll through the article.
Facts | Bison Dele
| Full Name | Brian Carson Williams |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6’10″/2.08 m/208 cm |
| Weight | 260 lb./118 kg |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Date Of Birth | 6th April 1969 |
| Birth Place | Fresno, California, United States |
| Died | 7th July 2002, Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American & Native American |
| Skin Color | Fair |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Last Girlfriend | Serena Karlan |
| Kids | No |
| Father’s Name | Eugene Williams |
| Mother’s Name | Patricia Phillips |
| Siblings | Older Brother, Miles Dabord |
| High School | St. Monica Catholic High School & Bishop Gorman High School |
| University | University Of Maryland (1987–1988)University Of Arizona (1988–1991) |
| Profession | Basketball Player (Retired) |
| Active From | 1991-1999 |
| Position | Center |
| NBA Teams | Orlando Magic (1991–1993) Denver Nuggets (1993–1995) Los Angeles Clippers (1995–1996) Chicago Bulls (1997) Detroit Pistons (1997–1999) |
| Awards | NBA Champions (1997)First-team All-Pac-10 (1991)Third-team Parade All-American (1987) |
| Net Worth | $6 Million |
| Salary | $6 Million |
| Merch | Autograph and Ultra Basketball Card |
| Last Update | February 2023 |
Was Bison Dele Murdered?
The late athlete, Bison, disappeared suddenly in 2002. When the public and his well-wishers did not see him, everyone was in despair, thinking that something terrible had happened to him.
Several news channels, media, and people made all sorts of theories and conspiracies. But none of them found any proof regarding the issues.
However, after a month, the public heard unfortunate news when the media circulated the information by saying that Bison was dead.
Bison’s death was confirmed when the authorities, who searched him, found only the boat but not the passenger’s sign.
Likewise, Bison was not the only one in the boat; there were two other persons. Those people were his girlfriend, Serena Karlan, and boat captain Bertrand Saldo.
Investigation
After many investigations, in September 2002, the investigators found shocking news.
On 5th September 2002, the man calling himself to be the Bison Dele was spotted in Pheonix. He had Bison’s passport and checkbook.
Though the man claiming to be Bison somewhat resembled him but wasn’t the real Bison.
Shockingly, the man was none other than Miles Dabord, the older brother of Bison.
During the five years of investigation, Miles stated that he was attempting to buy the Gold Eagle Coins from Certified Mint Inc for $152k on Bison’s behalf.
After hearing the statement, Miles left the station with the approval of the Pheonix Police Department.
However, police authorities came to know that Miles was the matching description of the man spotted at the Pearl Resort in Moorea on 8th July 2002.
The man who left the boat into Phaeton Bay on Tahiti’s Southeastern shore was Miles, as per the news published on Si.com.
At that time, he registered his name as Aria Bella. After leaving the boat, he flew to Los Angeles.
All of the events became evidence to prove that Miles was also on the boat that day.
After facing interrogation by the police, Miles headed to Mexico.
Before this, he met his girlfriend, Erica Wiese, as well. Police were searching for him, but he died on his way due to an overdose.
Bison Dele’s Murder’s Proof
Though the main suspicious person, Miles, died out of nowhere, his girlfriend became the second lead in the case. She stated that Miles was the one to kill Bison.
As per Erica, Miles and Bison argued while sailing in Tahiti. During the fight, Miles unintentionally punched Bison’s girlfriend, Serena, which killed her instantly.
Then, Miles killed Shaldon, the boat captain, by hitting him on the wall. After that, he murdered Bison in self-defense. And Miles dumped all three bodies.
Hence, it is believed that the basketball legend, Bison, was murdered by his older brother, Miles Dabord.
Personal Life | Girlfriend And More
Bison Dele dated several women, including singers and artists, but he never found what he sought in them.
He sought his soulmate, the one who could understand him deeply. But he kept searching for his soulmate until 1997.
In 1997, Bison found the woman he was looking for. They both were in a relationship till the last moment of their life.
Who Was Bison Dele Dating?
The late athlete was dating an elegant and unique woman, Serena Karlan. He encountered Serena for the first time in 1997 in Los Angeles while wandering with one of his friends.
Bison falls in love with Serena when she asks something that wrecks his soul. She questioned him if he had ever experienced the weird emotion of being alone in a room full of people.
After hearing the most related question, Bison answered, ‘Yes, exactly.’ At the time, the late player found the short conversation so meaningful that he knew Serena was the one who could understand him better than anyone.
Patch Up-Death
In 1997, Bison and Serena started having feelings for each other. However, with time, they began facing difficulties in communication as they were in different professions.
The late basketball player was in the NBA, whereas Serena searched for her desired job. Eventually, Bison and Serena were out of touch for many personal reasons.
However, there is a saying, ‘If it is meant to be, it will be.’ The Lord indeed wrote their love story with perfection. After being separated for almost three years, the couple reunited in 2001.
In September 2001, Bison contacted his sweetheart, Serena, to join him in New Zealand. Serena accepted the invitation with a happy heart and flew to him for two weeks.
Though she visited Bison with the thought of staying with him for two weeks, she waited for five weeks in real.
After being together for five weeks, Serena returned to her home. Again, she received a call from Bison within a few weeks.
And she left for New Zealand in early 2002 to accompany and wander to find the purpose of life with the late player.
Unfortunately, Bison and Serena never returned from their trip to Tahiti. Indeed, they were made for each other.
Age, Early Childhood And Family
Bison Dele was born on 6th April 1969 in Fresno, California, United States. His birth name was Brian Carson Williams. Being born in April, his birth sign was Aries.
Dele held an American nationality and belonged to the Afro-American and Native American ethnic backgrounds.
Family
The late athlete was born to his parents; a father, Eugene Williams, and a mother, Patricia Phillips. His father, Eugene, was a singer and had a musical group called The Platters.
However, Bison’s father and mother’s marriage started deteriorating, and they legally separated. After the divorce, the late athlete was raised by his mother in Fresno, California.
Similarly, his mother, Patricia, remarried. But, her second marriage also didn’t last, as she faced another divorce. At the time, Bison was in his junior school.
Siblings
Bison was not the only child of his parents, as he had an older brother named Miles Dabord. His older brother’s real name was Kevin Williams.
The late basketball player’s brother, Miles, stood tall at 6 feet and 8 inches (2.03 meters). Though athletic, he was away from sports due to his Asthma.
Talking about Miles’s other facts, he was very bright. He used to read an Encyclopedia when he was only in third grade. During his childhood, he was an introverted child.
Similarly, Miles’s personality began changing with time. He became awkward and helpless with his true self. In other words, Miles used to feel overlooked.
He handled all types of fluctuations in emotions, which led him to be a depressed man due to bad childhood and an uneven family.
Not only this, but Miles also tried to commit suicide many times. Also, he was highly addicted to cocaine and other drugs.
Bison Dele’s Education
Higher Education
Talking about Bison’s education, he attended Saint Monica Catholic High School in Santa Monica, California.
Later on, the late athlete got transferred to Bishop Gorman High School. The school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. While he was at school, he played basketball until his graduation.
College
After graduating high school, Bison enrolled at the University of Maryland. He played and studied at the university for only one year.
The late basketball player didn’t cease his college studies because he went to the University of Arizona after being transferred from his former college.
Body Measurements | Height And Weight
Highlighting the Bison’s physique, he was decently tall. He stood at a towering height of 2.08 m, and his listed weight was 260 lb.
Net Worth And Salary
Bison earned massive money until his death. He used to make millions from his NBA contracts. And he played for more than four teams during his playing tenure, which is evident to prove his fortune.
According to the report from reliable sources, Bison had a net worth of $6 million at the time of his death.
Before he retired from the game, his salary was about $6 million.
The highest-paid player, the Bison, lived a luxurious life for sure. And indeed, he had several vehicles and lavish villas. However, the detail of his properties was never publicized.
The late basketball player bought a house worth $350k for his mother and a Harley Davidson costing $15k for his father, Eugene Williams.
Professional Career Highlights
Bison commenced his professional career after being drafted in the 1991 NBA Draft in the first round with the 10th pick by the Orlando Magic. After playing from 1991 to 1993, he left the team.
Then, he joined Denver Nuggets and played from 1993 to 1994. For the team, he scored 8.0 points per game on average.
Later on, Bison switched to the Clippers and played for one year.
He also played for the Bulls in 1996 alongside Michael Jordan.
And from 1997 to 1999, he represented the Detroit Pistons. Later, Detroit’s revealed Bison’s contract buyout didn’t bring much to them.
It did keep them up for two productive years, and he retired soon.
Trivia
- Bison was only 33 years old at the time of his death.
- To respect his ancestors, Bison changed his name. His original name was Brian Carson Williams.
- He dated the singer Madonna for a short time.
- Well, there is a documentary made on Bison Dele’s disappearance and murder. It’s a single-season show with 12 episodes titled “Dark Waters.”
Graph Search
The alleged murder of the NBA player shocked people worldwide and was left on a cliffhanger, as the potential murderer, his older brother, died of an insulin overdose.
People still search for this curious case of Bison Dele.
