Contraband weapon found in Valrico library rape suspect's cell

TAMPA -- Kendrick Morris, the 17-year-old charged in the rape of another teenager at the Bloomingdale Regional Library and a 61-year-old woman at a day care, was found with a homemade knife in his jail cell, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies said.

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

At about 9 a.m., Morris, left, was ordered to pack his belongings in a canteen box during a search of his Orient Road Jail cell. Among his things, deputies found the knife, above, which they said was likely made from a plastic food tray and torn sheet.

An added charge of introducing contraband into a detention facility was added to Morris's existing charges and he has been relocated to a solitary cell at the Falkenburg Road Jail. Deputies confiscated the knife as evidence.

Morris, of Clair-Mel, was arrested April 26 -- when he was 16 -- in connection with the rape of an 18-year-old girl outside the Bloomingdale library two days earlier. The girl, who is not being named by the St. Petersburg Times or tampabay.com, was left in critical condition with broken skull bones and damage to her right eye.

Morris was also charged in a similar unsolved rape last year of a 61-year-old woman at the Children's Lighthouse Day Care Center three blocks from Morris's home.

DNA samples taken at both crime scenes matched Morris, authorities said.

Between the two cases, Morris was charged with nine felonies: kidnapping, two counts of sexual battery with great bodily harm, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, armed burglary with assault, robbery with a deadly weapon and three counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Hillsborough Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said Morris's trial date would be decided in January. She would not comment on the implications of the recent offense.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

Comments

[Donald B.Everson]

so young to have a history of crime like he does. Bet his parents are proud.

[Boyd]

Please do us all a favor and execute this guy

[weinersucs]

Wow...Mr. Steve White, the wannabe sports talk host and former buc should be proud of "his boy"...won't someone just take him out and spare the judicial system time and $$ on this walking pile of human garbage...??

[tinker]

We are all presented with opportunities for success or failure regardless of what our our background is. We all have the PERSONAL CHOICE of being good or evil..it is a very personal choice. It is obvious this kid grew up in a disfunctionaln family or lack thereof. Regardless of circumstances we all have cpportunities to suceed.

This young fellow is, however, a piece of crap that can only be exonerated by our God through his Son Jesus. We have to learn to get past bad expiences and move on with life.

[flanygal]

Put him in chains and make him work to help pay the medical costs of his victims until the day he dies, never free him.

[Al]

Does anyone not agree that he should be released the day the girl recovers 100% physically & mentally?

If/when this loser ever gets out, it will prove that our justice system is broken.

[Adrian]

menace to society! he will never be worth anything........he should be put to death for whathe did to that young girl who is still battling an uphill battle every day :( his momma is a crackhead in jail! raised by grandma who says he was at the library studying every night! NOT!!! obama better create miracles

[Marc]

If Abraham gets to post his fav website below every news-story of the SPTimes, then heck if I won't post mine as well. I love to shop for Loofah products at www.NaturalBathandBodyShopcom . Great, now I feel better. Any BTW that kid is unbelievable. Probably the youngest in his cell block and already an expert shank maker. Scary, glad he is off our streets.

[Marc]

Oops, that is the www.naturalbathandbodyshop.com. Now I really feel better.

[Dr. Lucinda E. Miner]

The crimes are horrible. Unless another tragedy is created, it should be explored why wasn't Steve White charged with child abuse or neglect. Kendrick Morris had been under psychiatric care since he was 10. At 15, Morris pointed to wounds that were all over his body. Morris blamed his mother and White, who was involved with the mother. However, only the mother was charged with child abuse. When it comes to our Bucs or NFL players, anything goes according to the so called authorities.

[windowsugar]

maybe he's afraid for his life. I don't think they take kindly to rapists and child molesters and elderly abuse in jail.
maybe he should be in a facility for younger people not around adult males at ORJ.
He deserves a good defense not for the pretrial publicity to drum him on to deathrow.
I agree if he did these acts they are heinous. But it sure is getting a LOT of attention for 'some' reason, with the sheriffs making visits to all the libraries. WHATEVER.
Do they do this at the scene of EVERY VIOLENT RAPE?
I don't think sooooo

[windowsugar]

maybe he's afraid for his life. I don't think they take kindly to rapists and child molesters and elderly abuse in jail.
maybe he should be in a facility for younger people not around adult males at ORJ.
He deserves a good defense not for the pretrial publicity to drum him on to deathrow.
I agree if he did these acts they are heinous. But it sure is getting a LOT of attention for 'some' reason, with the sheriffs making visits to all the libraries. WHATEVER.
Do they do this at the scene of EVERY VIOLENT RAPE?
I don't think sooooo

[windowsugar]

maybe he's afraid for his life. I don't think they take kindly to rapists and child molesters and elderly abuse in jail.
maybe he should be in a facility for younger people not around adult males at ORJ.
He deserves a good defense not for the pretrial publicity to drum him on to deathrow.
I agree if he did these acts they are heinous. But it sure is getting a LOT of attention for 'some' reason, with the sheriffs making visits to all the libraries. WHATEVER.
Do they do this at the scene of EVERY VIOLENT RAPE?
I don't think sooooo.
Also, lucky she hasn't come across Tampa Police Dept. They like to ARREST rape victims, remember?
Good luck to his victims and IF it was him, he still gets a fair trial, remember?
It's not fair if they try it in the media ahead of time.
how many shanks found at ORJ this year?
Just sayin ....
WHY are they sensationalizing this case? Getting ready to add another RESTRICTIVE law on the books in the name of an innocent victim??

[B M Brown]

An eye for an eye. This person(?) took away the life & bright future of a vibrant intelligent young woman, he should have the same done to him.

[2bizzy]

Windowsugar I hope one day you get an opportunity to share a jail cell with him. Maybe then you will be able to see him for the monster that he is.

[Madison]

windowsugar...you are an idiot "if he did these crimes" can you say DNA? he almost killed this girl, she should be in her first year of college, instead she is still laying in a bed. she had a scholarship for college and one night she wanted to return a library book because she didn't want it to be late.. what did she get? beaten almost to death and violently raped. people like you that want to give a rapist a fair trail make me sick. what if it had been your mother, wife, daughter or sister, would you be singing the same tune?

[Madison]

windowsugar...you are an idiot "if he did these crimes" can you say DNA? he almost killed this girl, she should be in her first year of college, instead she is still laying in a bed. she had a scholarship for college and one night she wanted to return a library book because she didn't want it to be late.. what did she get? beaten almost to death and violently raped. people like you that want to give a rapist a fair trail make me sick. what if it had been your mother, wife, daughter or sister, would you be singing the same tune?

[6980346]

I thought he was such a good kid? Face it, there are bad people out there and yes, there ARE bad kids out there. He has 2 victims we know of (windowsugar: yes it's bad to be tried in the media, but there IS DNA evidence...). I have no sympathy for monsters like this. If he's in "adult" jail and fears for his life, TOO BAD. Should have thought about that beforehand. I am sure his victims were TERRIFIED. Doesn't take a genius to know rape is wrong.

[6980346]

I thought he was such a good kid? Face it, there are bad people out there and yes, there ARE bad kids out there. He has 2 victims we know of (windowsugar: yes it's bad to be tried in the media, but there IS DNA evidence...). I have no sympathy for monsters like this. If he's in "adult" jail and fears for his life, TOO BAD. Should have thought about that beforehand. I am sure his victims were TERRIFIED. Doesn't take a genius to know rape is wrong.

[PennyWise]

There is no hope for someone with this much loose wiring, I don't care how old he is. Never, never, NEVER let this animal out of his cage. No one will be safe.