By RONNIE ELLIS
GLASGOW — Steve Nunn’s father, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn, in a letter to the younger Nunn, accused his son of physically abusing several members of his family — including the former governor.
The undated letter is attached as an exhibit to Louie Nunn’s response to a 1995 divorce petition filed by his then wife Beula Nunn, the mother of Steve Nunn. Louie and Beula Nunn are both now deceased.
Steve Nunn, 56, is charged with the murder of his former fiancée, 29-year-old Amanda Ross, who was found shot outsider her Lexington townhouse early last Friday morning. Nunn was later apprehended with his wrists cut in the Hart County cemetery where his parents are buried. He is lodged in the Hart County Jail. In March of this year, Ross obtained a domestic violence order against Nunn, who subsequently entered an Alford plea and was ordered to stay away from Ross and undergo alcohol assessment and counseling.
In 1995, Beula Nunn filed for divorce from the former governor and in his response filed March 3, 1995, in Barren Circuit Court, Louie Nunn said he and his wife “lived apart only when their son moved into their home during his divorce and after their son sold his insurance business and moved back into the marital residence against the will of the Respondent (Louie Nunn) . . . ”
The response goes on to say, Steve Nunn “refused to vacate the marital residence, in support of which Respondent file (sic) herewith as exhibit A and makes apart (sic) hereof his handwritten letter to his son of which a copy was provided to Petitioner (Beula Nunn)."
A copy of the letter is attached to the response. The copy indicates no date, but in the body of the letter Louie Nunn states he intends to return “to our home by noon Thursday, September 15, 1994,” adding he wanted Steve Nunn to be out of the house prior to that time and establishing ground rules for Steve Nunn to visit his mother at the house thereafter.
The letter makes multiple references to abuse by Steve Nunn.
“Don’t you ever again in my presence or let me hear of you abusing your children, your sister, your mother, me or any member of our family,” the elder Nunn wrote in the letter to his son.
The former governor wrote he hoped it wouldn’t be necessary to expose “publicly your past conduct,” and says he will seek a restraining order against his son.
“This will necessitate my bringing into Court your sister, your children and your former wife, all of whom you have abused,” the letter continues.
“My heart bleeds to have to write this letter but you best understand I will do exactly what I have written because you will have had ample opportunity to prevent the necessity for any further problems with me.”
Joe Layne Travis, a close personal friend of Louie Nunn’s and his former law partner, filed the response in the divorce proceeding.
He said Thursday he destroyed his files in the case about six months ago but he confirmed the letter and said he learned of the abuse directly from Louie Nunn.
“I recall that very accurately but I don’t recall all the details of (the letter),” Travis said. “I’m not disputing that at all. In fact, I’ve told people several times (Steve Nunn) abused Louie."
“I was never a supporter of Steve’s, everybody knows that,” Travis said. “And that’s why.”
Barren Circuit Judge Phil Patton, who was Barren’s commonwealth attorney at the time of the divorce in 1995, confirmed that Louie Nunn came to him to investigate a criminal complaint against Steve.
However, Patton told him because there was no weapon involved, it would be a misdemeanor and “he (Louie Nunn) decided not to pursue it.”
The father and son subsequently settled their differences and remained close until Louie Nunn’s death in 2004.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com.
