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Former Buc Denies Marrying Rape Suspect's Mother

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune
and MIKE WELLS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 2, 2008

TAMPA - Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Steve White, who was previously in a relationship with rape suspect Kendrick Morris' mother, denied today in a letter from his attorney that he ever was married to the woman.

DNA test results link Morris not only to the rape of an 18-year-old girl outside a Valrico library last week but also to a rape in Clair-Mel City about a year ago, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

In the letter, White's attorney said he has not lived in the same household with the boy's mother or Morris, a 16-year-old Bloomingdale High School freshman, since 2000.

The statement was contradicted by information in a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigative report, which states White told investigators he started dating Morris' mother in 1999 and they broke up in 2002.

On Wednesday, Morris' mother, Lisa Stevens, said she and White had been married and separated in 2001 or 2002. She said they divorced in 2005.

When asked by The Tampa Tribune today whether she disputed what White said, Stevens said, "I have no comment."

A search for marriage and divorce records by the Tribune did not yield results.

The sheriff's office arrested Morris on Saturday in connection with the attack two days earlier outside Bloomingdale Regional Public Library. He is being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center on two counts of sexual battery with great bodily harm and one count each of kidnapping and aggravated battery.

Lisa Stevens said she has a good relationship with her son and denies child abuse allegations made against her last year by the sheriff's office.

Sheriff's detectives began the investigation April 11, 2007, after White contacted an abuse hot line, according to an investigative report.

The attorney's letter said White had no comment on the abuse investigation.

White shares a daughter with Stevens.

"Given his daughter's relationship with her brother, Kendrick Morris, Mr. White believes any further comment would be inappropriate," the letter said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691. Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at mwells@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7839.

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