Months later, authorities unsure how LaBrake granddaughter died

TAMPA — In late January, a teen mother gave birth to a baby girl inside her family's South Tampa home. According to a Hillsborough County medical examiner's report, the infant may have lived just three hours.

For four days, 18-year-old Kaitlyn McCarter hid the baby and didn't call 911, the report states.

Then, on Feb. 1, it states, she came out holding the body. Someone called 911 and police arrived at 11:45 a.m.

Months later, authorities still do not know how Tiffany Grace McCarter died. The cause of death is listed as "undetermined."

The autopsy found nothing unusual, and a toxicology test found only acetaminophen, the drug found in Tylenol.

"Because the autopsy is inconclusive, detectives are now working to determine whether the mother's actions played a role in the child's death or whether this is just a tragic loss," Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said Thursday.

No charges have been filed, but the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office is reviewing the investigation, McElroy said.

Attempts to reach McCarter for comment were unsuccessful.

She is the daughter of Lynne LaBrake, who is married to former Tampa housing chief Steve LaBrake. Lynne LaBrake answered the door at the family home on DeLeon Street Thursday and declined to comment.

According to the medical examiner's report, the couple did not know McCarter was pregnant.

The investigative summary from that office states that McCarter told police Tiffany stopped breathing hours after she was born on Jan. 28.

The LaBrakes became household names in 2001 after investigations revealed the pair, who worked together for Tampa's housing department, were trading city contracts in exchange for favors from builder Dean R. Ryan and former Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan executive Chester M. Luney.

In February 2005, Steve LaBrake was sentenced to five years in federal prison and Lynne LaBrake to three years and five months on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and accepting bribes and gratuities.

Lynne LaBrake was released in June 2008, and Steve LaBrake left federal prison in March 2009.

Reach Kim Wilmath at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@sptimes.com.