HiddenMysteries.com
HiddenMysteries.net
HiddenMysteries.org



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A word from our sponsor

   

More RepubliKKKON Khristian Child Molestors

Monday, September 10 2007 @ 03:08 PM CDT

Increase font    Decrease font
This option not available all articles

Abuse by Bryan long rumored

Some say they had heard tales of sexual improprieties for decades.

By CHRIS TISCH, ABHI RAGHUNATHAN and CRISTINA SILVA

ST. PETERSBURG - Friends and colleagues of City Councilman John Bryan were shocked by sex abuse allegations that led to his suicide.

But not everyone was surprised.

Stories about Bryan's sexual indiscretions had been circulating for nearly two decades.

"I heard the rumors, but you never know if someone's out to get him or no," said Bill Dudley, who was in the Northeast Exchange Club with Bryan. "So I never paid much attention to them. You have to take rumors at face value."

Just as stunning as the rumors, perhaps, is that many of Bryan's closest associates say they never heard them.

Mayor Rick Baker said he didn't know of them.

Current police Chief Chuck Harmon and former police Chief Goliath Davis both said Saturday that they never heard any questions about Bryan's past.

"I wasn't made aware of any type of allegation against Mr. Bryan until this week," Harmon said.

Those who did hear them include Jerry Knight, St. Petersburg's one-time fire chief. He said he couldn't substantiate the rumors.

"I don't know that anybody knows," he said Saturday. "That's the whole issue."

Daniel Price, 77, who was part of a luncheon group with Bryan, also said he heard the gossip.

"The stories about Bryan flouting around with little girls have been abroad in the land for 15 years," Price said.

Former St. Petersburg Times reporter Jon Wilson said he also heard the speculation and looked into it while covering the 2001 city election.

Wilson, now retired from the newspaper, said he heard Bryan had an inappropriate relationship with his oldest adopted daughter.

Wilson said he made a few phone calls inquiring about the alleged sexual abuse. About 15 minutes into his work, Bryan called him.

"He said none of it was true," Wilson recalled.

Wilson said Bryan gave him the woman's phone number and urged him to call her. Wilson placed several calls to the woman, none of which she returned, he recalled.

Wilson said he performed standard background checks on Bryan and reviewed the file of his divorce from his first wife.

"I thought there was an awful lot of smoke, but we could just never find the fire," Wilson said Saturday.

Wilson recalled that most of the whispers came from City Hall outsiders.

Community activist and political gadfly Lorraine Margeson said she heard the rumors while working on Kathleen Ford's mayoral campaign in 2000.

"It was widely rumored that there were suspicions that Mr. Bryan had tendencies toward pedophilia," Margeson said. "I would find it hard to believe that no one else heard these rumors before, because they were widely discussed."

The rumors seemed to fade after Bryan won the election, Wilson said.

Only recently did they take on more substance.

Authorities recently learned of allegations that Bryan sexually abused his oldest adopted daughter, now 38, years ago. They also were told of accusations that more recently he sexually abused his other two adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15.

Family services officials held a hearing Friday morning, during which a judge ordered Bryan to have no contact with the children. St. Petersburg police also launched a criminal investigation.

Bryan admitted in court to a sexual relationship with his oldest daughter but said it occurred after she turned 18, courts spokesman Ron Stuart said.

Bryan resigned as council chairman, then took his life Friday at his second home in Floral City.

If the rumors were swirling in months or years past, City Councilman Herb Polson said he never heard them.

"I am absolutely shocked by the suggestion that any of those things took place," Polson said. "This is the first time I've heard any of this."

George Rahdert, a friend and political supporter, said Bryan never hinted at the trouble mounting in his life or indicated he knew of an ongoing investigation. He and Bryan had lunch a little more than two weeks ago.

"John was just the kind of guy who never looked like he had any big problems," said Rahdert, a developer and an attorney who also represents the St. Petersburg Times.

He added that he recalled hearing of "some whispers from political enemies" when Bryan first explored getting into politics, but nothing specific and nothing as horrible as sexual abuse.

Robert Skinner said he suspects there was something to the rumors.

Skinner, 45, worked as a foreman for Bryan's home construction business for four years in the early 1980s.

Skinner said Bryan bragged about sexual liaisons with high-priced prostitutes in Tampa.

Skinner said Bryan also made sexual advances toward young female employees and often pursued sexual relationships with women whose homes he built.

Skinner said Bryan did all this while he was married to his first wife.

"He did have a problem. He should have gotten help," Skinner said.

Still, Skinner said Bryan was a good man who treated him well. They vacationed and raced boats together. Skinner helped build the house in Floral City where Bryan ended his life Friday.

Skinner said he "loved him like a father."

"He also had this little dark side," he said.


**********************

Child Abuse Tip Had Fatal Effect

By CARLOS MONCADAand MIKE WELLS The Tampa Tribune

ST. PETERSBURG - It was an anonymous tip to authorities last week that set off a chain of events ending in the death of city leader John Bryan.

Few saw it coming.

"I didn't want to be the guy that knew that was going to happen," city council member Bill Foster said Saturday.

Yet Foster predicted the tragic outcome after reading Bryan's terse resignation letter on Friday. Just hours later, the city council chairman committed suicide amid a criminal investigation into allegations that he sexually abused two of his adopted daughters and a nanny.

"I've known John for a long time and I knew what was important in his life," Foster said. "And I knew by the tone of his resignation and by the few allegations that were allowed to be made public.

"I just knew it."

With expressions of grief, sadness and a sense of disbelief, friends and colleagues of Bryan spent Saturday in mourning for the two-term council member and his family. They recalled a respected public servant who cherished his family, loved his hometown and relished the outdoors. He was considered a rough-around-the-edges Republican and strong ally of Mayor Rick Baker and a man who spoke bluntly and unequivocally on issues.

"This is a very sad day for our city," Baker told reporters Saturday afternoon. "I ask all in our community to hold the Bryan family up in your thoughts and prayers. They had a hard day [Friday]."

The normally upbeat mayor was visibly downcast and appeared on the verge of tears as he struggled to complete his prepared remarks between long pauses.

Alone With His Thoughts
Bryan, 56, was found by a St. Petersburg Times reporter about 5:45 p.m. Friday slumped in a golf cart in the garage of Bryan's second home in Floral City. In the closed garage were a riding lawn mower that was running and two four-wheelers that also appeared to have been running but were found out of gas. A suicide note was found in the house, but the Citrus County Sheriff's Office has declined to reveal the contents.

The autopsy was to be performed in a medical examiner's office in Leesburg, Citrus County sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said.

"He went to his place up there by himself," city Councilman Earnest Williams said. "That's the time you need to be around someone. Because I can imagine the kinds of thoughts going through his head up there by himself."

Bryan was being investigated on suspicion of sexually abusing two of his adopted daughters and a third person who worked as a nanny for the family. The daughters are ages 13 and 15, said Ron Stuart, a spokesman for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which includes Pinellas County.

Bryan contended the sexual relations he had with the nanny were consensual and occurred while she was an adult.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office began a child protective services investigation "last week or so," spokeswoman Marianne Pasha said Saturday, adding that she could not provide details.

A representative of the sheriff's unit that investigates child abuse appeared at Friday's shelter hearing in Unified Family Court, in which Circuit Judge Raymond Gross ordered Bryan to move out of the home he shared with his wife and daughters.

St. Petersburg police began a criminal investigation into the allegations at the same time as the sheriff's office, spokesman Bill Proffit said.

"There was an anonymous complaint made and we launched a dual investigation," he said. The sheriff's office "conducts a child protection investigation and we do the criminal investigation," he said.

Word of the investigation leaked to the public Friday and that kind of brought it to a halt, he said.

"We were right in the middle of the investigation when that happened," Proffit said. "Now we have to ask ourselves, 'Is the investigation over?' and 'At what point does a redacted portion of it become available to the public?'"

Bryan's resignation letter, which offered no explanation, was dated Aug. 20. In July, Bryan resigned from the Pinellas-Pasco board of the Sarasota Family YMCA, which handles foster care services in the two counties.

Bryan's resignation from the YMCA board was verbal and was for "time and personal reasons," said Lee Johnson, the agency's executive vice president.

Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, who also served on the board with Bryan, said he did not know why Bryan resigned. Welch himself resigned two months ago because of other obligations.

"I'm terribly saddened by the whole situation, especially for the [Bryan] children," Welch said. "I hope they can get their lives back together eventually."

One of Bryan's two sons from a previous marriage, Christopher Bryan, 28, of St. Petersburg, declined to comment when reached Saturday by phone. Messages for other relatives and Bryan's former spouse were not returned.

Bryan's wife, Alicia, could not be located Saturday. No one answered the door at the family's northeast St. Petersburg home off Gandy Boulevard.

"They are surrounded by family, loved ones," said Foster, who spoke with Alicia Bryan on Saturday morning. "They realize it's going to take a lot of time to recover. But I will say there's a lot of people and a lot of friends and family lifting them up in prayer and embracing them."

He said Alicia Bryan admitted that "she doesn't have time to fully mourn her own personal loss because of her extreme focus on the children. Her 100 percent attention right now is the two children."

A Private Man's Public Service
Described as a deeply private man, Bryan's life revolved around his family, his public service and his long involvement in the Exchange Club of Northeast St. Petersburg, a service group that sponsors the annual Ribfest food festival in St. Petersburg.

The exchange club, of which Bryan is a former president, supports primarily children's causes and works to prevent child abuse, according to the group's Web site.

With a booming voice, the tall, silver-haired Bryan was a presence on the council. Those who worked with him said he took a common-sense approach to governing and did not hesitate to speak his mind, even at the expense of offending colleagues or constituents.

"He knew what he liked and he knew what he didn't," Foster said. "And he wasn't afraid to share his opinion."

Bryan was first elected in 2001, two years after he retired from his home-building business, Bryan Homes, which built more than 300 houses in the city. He was re-elected in 2005. His current term runs through Jan. 2, 2010. The city council will fill Bryan's vacancy within 45 days.

Although it was speculated that Bryan might run for mayor in 2010, some colleagues said Saturday that they never heard Bryan say he was interested in the post.

Williams said Bryan had been considering running for a Pinellas County Commission seat next year, but he confided to Williams two weeks ago that he was going to retire after finishing his term.

Williams was still trying to make sense of the tragedy.

"The worst that could have happened to him was he would have gone to jail," said Williams, shaking his head.

http://www.tbo.com/



********************


In the final hours, John Bryan appeared in control

As the week crashed down on John Bryan, officials who knew of the abuse inquiry were on the lookout for trouble signals.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN, ABHI RAGHUNATHAN and JACOB H. FRIES

ST. PETERSBURG - In the final hours of his public life, as the walls closed in around him, John Bryan appeared in control.

For 30 minutes on Friday, John Wolfe, the city's top attorney, looked for any crack.

Bryan talked about how sorry he was, mainly for hurting his family and his friends, and for the media circus that was to come. Much of the meeting, though, was marked by silence, Wolfe said.

But in what may have been his last conversation, Bryan also focused on the future, where he would stay and how he would get by in the days and weeks ahead.

Wolfe kept looking for signs that Bryan was unstable.

He found none.

As news of Bryan's suicide on Friday sunk in on Saturday, a clearer picture of the events of the past week began to emerge. But even those final moments don't reconcile with the public face of John Bryan that most people remembered -- the family man, the civic leader and the committed St. Petersburg City Council chairman.

"There was no indication at all what was going to happen," Wolfe said Saturday, retracing his last moments with Bryan, 56. "There just wasn't anything."

- - -

A little more than two weeks ago, Bryan had lunch with George Rahdert, a friend and political supporter. Rahdert, a developer and attorney who also represents the St. Petersburg Times, said Bryan talked about his separation from his wife, Alicia, a financial planner in Tampa.

He seemed optimistic that they would get back together, Rahdert said. Bryan told him his wife blamed their marital turmoil "on the time he was spending on his political commitments."

Bryan said he had decided not to run for mayor, so he could repair his marriage.

"I was surprised that he seemed willing to set aside those political ambitions," Rahdert said. "It seemed admirable."

- - -

St. Petersburg police Chief Chuck Harmon said the department formally began investigating Bryan on Wednesday. Detectives with the crimes against children unit conducted interviews related to allegations that Bryan had sexually abused his adopted daughters. Harmon said detectives spoke to Bryan at least once. Police declined to identify other people interviewed, but they found reason to proceed.

"They told me based upon what they learned that there were some criminal allegations here," Harmon said.

The chief called Mayor Rick Baker late Wednesday afternoon to alert him to the investigation. "It was about a matter important to the city," Harmon said.

He told Baker that the investigation focused on Bryan's personal life, not his role as City Council chairman. The chief said he did not provide the mayor with many details because the investigation was still ongoing.

A day later, Thursday, Bryan made an appointment to speak with Wolfe.

He picked the time, 1 p.m. Friday. He didn't say what was on his mind.

- - -

Around 10:15 a.m. Friday, Bryan attended a shelter hearing in front of Circuit Judge Raymond Gross at the criminal court complex in Largo. Such hearings determine who has custody of children while authorities investigate abuse allegations.

Bryan and his wife were present. The children were not, said attorney Christie Pardo, who was in the courtroom.

Authorities were investigating allegations that Bryan had sexually abused two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15, officials have said. The Times is withholding their names because of the nature of the allegations.

In addition, police were investigating whether Bryan had sexually abused his former nanny, whom he also had adopted. She is now 38 and lives out of state.

A Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court spokesman said Bryan admitted to a sexual relationship with the nanny, but said it was consensual and occurred after she turned 18. Bryan also had two children from a previous marriage.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Gross ordered Bryan to have no contact with the two girls, who were allowed to remain at home with their mother.

The hearing lasted 15 minutes.

- - -

News of the hearing began spreading beyond the courthouse, and concern in City Hall mounted.

First Deputy Mayor Tish Elston and Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis considered whether Bryan could be helped by an employee assistance program.

When he heard about the allegations, Davis said he began calling Bryan because "from all my law enforcement experience, I know that you have to reach out and grab that person because when the pressure starts to mount, you don't want someone to do what John did."

Harmon also had started calling the City Council members to inform them.

Council member Bill Foster asked if police could protect Bryan. Could someone stay with him? Could he be arrested?

"I specifically said you can't let him out of your sight," Foster recalled Saturday.

"The three legs of the stool John Bryan stood on were city, family and his civic involvement," Foster said. "Yesterday all three of the legs of that stool were knocked over. You had to know the meaning of these things to him, to know we were in trouble."

Harmon said he was mindful of such concerns.

He knew Bryan was set to meet with Wolfe at 1 p.m. so he asked the city attorney to let him know if he noticed anything unusual or disturbing about Bryan's behavior, and to offer any appropriate help through the city's employee assistance program.

The letter Bryan handed to Wolfe, dated Aug. 20, originally indicated he would resign Sept. 1. Wolfe did not ask for details, but he had Bryan write in a new date and sign the letter.

Wolfe walked Bryan to the elevator after the meeting. He told Bryan to call him if he needed anything or someone to talk to.

Thanks, Bryan said, and left.

Around 2 p.m., Harmon and Wolfe spoke. Harmon asked if Wolfe saw any sign Bryan was going to harm himself or others.

"I asked him, 'Is he homicidal or suicidal?'" the chief said. "Mr. Wolfe told me: 'No.'"

If Bryan had shown such signs, police could have taken some action. But "there was no information brought to us that would allow us to take him into custody under the Baker Act or anything like that," Harmon said.

City officials announced Bryan's resignation in a tense, swift news conference at 3:45 p.m.

Davis and City Council member Rene Flowers kept calling Bryan's new cell phone, hoping he would answer.

- - -

Bryan was found dead in the garage of his Floral City home at 5:45 p.m. by a St. Petersburg Times reporter seeking an interview. Bryan killed himself by inhaling carbon monoxide.

About four hours later, Richard Giglio, a local attorney for Bryan's oldest adopted daughter, issued a statement:

"(The daughter) and her family are deeply distraught by the recent events involving her adoptive father and St. Petersburg City Council Chairman, John Bryan," Giglio said.

In an interview Saturday, Giglio, a partner with the law firm Maney & Gordon, said he is representing only the oldest daughter.

"She is in the process of dealing with everything that's going on," Giglio said.

He declined to say anything more.

- - -

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said officials would decide this week what to do next with the investigation. "We will have to meet on Monday to decide how to close the investigation and to decide when all the documents become public record," he said.

Gail Tierney, spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, said authorities were still waiting for autopsy results before releasing Bryan's suicide note.

It was found on the kitchen counter, written on a single page still attached to a yellow legal pad, Tierney said.

Bryan began writing in pencil, then switched to a pen.

"It just seemed to be kind of a goodbye kind of note from what I heard," Tierney said. "It was more wishing his family well and that he had confidence in them that they would do well."

"It was a farewell kind of note more than anything else."

How it happened

Wednesday

St. Petersburg police begin investigating allegations that City Council Chairman John Bryan sexually abused his adopted daughters.

Police Chief Chuck Harmon calls Mayor Rick Baker and alerts him to the investigation.

Thursday

Bryan sets up an appointment to speak on Friday with the city's top attorney, John Wolfe. He doesn't say why.

Friday

10:15 a.m.: Bryan attends a court hearing on who will have custody of his children while authorities investigate abuse allegations. The judge orders him to have no contact with his two young adopted daughters.

Midmorning: As news spreads, Harmon tells Wolfe to alert him if Bryan shows any disturbing behavior.

1 p.m.: Bryan and Wolfe meet. Bryan resigns.

2 p.m.: Wolfe tells Harmon there is no indication Bryan is a danger to himself or others.

3:45 p.m.: City officials announce Bryan's resignation.

5:45 p.m.: A St. Petersburg Times reporter finds Bryan dead in the garage of his Floral City home. He had inhaled carbon monoxide.

**********************

Bryan long held political ambitions
Aaron Sharockman writes for Saturday's St. Petersburg Times:

ST. PETERSBURG -- John Bryan's political ambitions were never a secret.

When City Council members picked Bill Foster over Bryan for a vacant council seat in 1998, he moved to a new district so he could try again.

Three years later, Bryan built a formidable team that included help from Charlie Crist and GOP heavyweight Mel Sembler, as well as two former mayors.

He was elected that year and easily won re-election in 2005.

Many speculated that a run for mayor was next.

Now, Bryan's death throws the already shifting makeup of the City Council into further uncertainty.

With four of the eight council seats up for election in the fall, and a primary scheduled Tuesday, council members must also fill Bryan's seat in District 2.

St. Petersburg officials removed Bryan’s image and biography from the city’s Web site late Friday.

Under an empty picture of District 2, it simply said "vacant."

http://www.sptimes.com
tampabay.com

Jesus Speaks to the Khristian GOP


Comments (0)




* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A word from our sponsor

   


HiddenMysteries
Main Headlines Page

Main Article Page
More RepubliKKKON Khristian Child Molestors
http://www.hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php/20070910150826657

Check out these other Fine TGS sites

HiddenMysteries.com
HiddenMysteries.net
HiddenMysteries.org
RadioFreeTexas.org
TexasNationalPress.com
TGSPublishing.com
ReptilianAgenda.com
NationofTexas.com
Texas Nationalist Movement