St. Pete city council chairman commits suicide

The scene early Friday evening at the home John Bryan kept in Floral City, Citrus County. [Ron Thompson | Times]

ST. PETERSBURG -- Just after 1 p.m. Friday, City Council Chairman John Bryan, left, walked into City Hall and handed in his resignation letter.

Less than five hours later, he was slumped over in a golf cart in the garage of his Floral City home, dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Bryan, 56, had committed suicide.

Bryan's shocking death came after news spread Friday that authorities were investigating stunning allegations that he had sexually abused three girls, including two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15. Ron Stuart, a spokesman for the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court, said the third alleged victim was a nanny for Bryan years ago and no longer lives in the area.

For city officials, the allegations were as jarring as they were sickening. Bryan was a hometown business hero, a pillar of the community, a powerful voice on the City Council dais and a close ally of Mayor Rick Baker.

St. Petersburg Times reporter Dan DeWitt went to Bryan's home in Citrus County on Friday afternoon seeking an interview about the allegations. After driving about 100 yards up a gravelly driveway, DeWitt walked toward Bryan’s lakefront home at about 5:45 p.m. and noticed the sound of a motor from the garage, a tan block building detached from the house.

DeWitt smelled strong gasoline fumes. He looked through a small window into the garage and saw a man resembling Bryan slumped over in a white golf cart. A red riding mower was running, and the room was filled with smoke. Two four-wheelers in the garage had also run out of gas, Citrus County officials said.
DeWitt called 911 and tried to open the garage door, which was locked. Five minutes later, paramedics arrived and broke into the garage. A paramedic told DeWitt that Bryan was dead.

"I was stunned," DeWitt said.

In an enclosed space, carbon monoxide can quickly render a person unconscious and kill them in minutes, officials said.

St. Petersburg police declined to comment on news of Bryan’s suicide, or on their investigation. Bryan left a note, but DeWitt said Citrus County deputies would not let him see it.

On Friday around 10:30 a.m., 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.

The hearing was brief, according to court spokesman Stuart. St. Petersburg police had opened a criminal investigation into Bryan.

Authorities were investigating allegations that Bryan had sexually abused two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15, Stuart said.

In addition, authorities were also investigating whether Bryan had sexually abused his former nanny, whom he had also adopted. The former nanny is now 38.

Stuart said Bryan admitted to a sexual relationship with the nanny, but said it was consensual and occurred after the nanny turned 18.

"He claims a consensual sexual relationship," Stuart said Friday afternoon. "He claims she was of age."

Judge Gross ordered Bryan to have no contact with the children, Stuart said. Gross allowed the children to remain at home with their mother, Alicia Bryan.

For more, pick up Saturday's Times or visit tampabay.com.

Abhi Raghunathan, Aaron Sharockman and Chris Tisch, Times staff writers