Steve Nunn indicted in Ross murder

State News

Discussion

November 10, 2009

By RONNIE ELLIS The Glasgow Daily Times Tue Nov 10, 2009, 04:02 PM CST

LEXINGTON — Former legislator and one-time gubernatorial candidate Steve Nunn of Glasgow was indicted on charges of murder Tuesday by a Fayette County grand jury.

Nunn, 57, is accused of shooting his former fiancée, Amanda Ross, 29, outside her Lexington townhouse in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 11. Because Nunn had been placed under an emergency protective/domestic violence order earlier this year when Ross accused him of hitting her, he was also charged with violation of an EPO/DVO – an aggravating factor which permits the prosecution to seek the death penalty.

Nunn previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Fayette Commonwealth Attorney Ray Larson declined to comment on the case shortly before the grand jury returned the indictment to Fayette Circuit Judge Kim Bunnell. He said he has a rule not comment on anything other than legal procedure in cases he is prosecuting.

He also declined to say if he will seek the death penalty. Nunn, who is lodged in the Fayette County Detention Center, is scheduled for arraignment in Fayette Circuit Court on Nov. 19 at 11:30 a.m. No bond was set for the murder charge; a $25,000 cash bond was set for the charge of violating the domestic violence order.

London attorney Warren Scoville who represents Nunn declined comment to questions from a reporter from the London Sentinel-Echo – a CNHI paper. Scoville also did not respond to messages left with his office by CNHI News Service seeking comment.

Nunn’s daughters, Mary Nunn and Courtney Nunn, testified Tuesday morning before the grand jury. Neither would comment afterward. The only other witness listed on the indictment is Det. Todd. Iddings.

Ross, who worked for the state Department of Insurance, sought an EPO against Nunn last spring. After a Fayette District Judge placed Nunn under the EPO/DVO, he resigned his position as Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet for Human Resources. The two were back in court in July when Ross asked the court to restrain Nunn from distributing “altered photographs” of Ross.

Around 6:20 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 11, Lexington police were called to Ross’ townhouse where they found Ross in the parking lot shot multiple times. She died a short time later at the University of Kentucky hospital. Authorities immediately began searching for Nunn who a few hours later was located and apprehended in the small rural Hart County cemetery where his parents, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and Beula Nunn are buried.

His wrists had been cut and he had a weapon which he discharged as officers approached. Nunn was transported by ambulance to the Bowling Green Medical Center and charged with six counts of wanton endangerment. He was indicted on those charges last week by a Hart County grand jury and is scheduled for arraignment there on Nov. 17.

Nunn also faces a wrongful death civil suit by the estate of Ross. In mid-October, Nunn transferred ownership of his Glasgow home to Scoville to pay for his legal bills. The home and its contents have been advertised for auction this Saturday by Jerry A. Botts, Auctioneer.

Tara Kaprowy of the London Sentinel Echo, a CNHI Newspaper, contributed to this story. Lisa Simpson Strange of the Glasgow Daily Times, a CNHI Newspaper, also contributed.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

Text Only

State News

ELLIS UPDATE: Lawmakers closer on new district mapping
Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Thursday that lawmakers in the Republican Senate and Democratic House are close to an agreement on re-drawing the congressional district map.

February 3, 2012
UK, UL leaders: Cuts are hurting higher ed
The presidents of the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville told a legislative panel that they will keep working to achieve the goals of higher education reform passed in 1997 in spite of on-going budget cuts. But they made it clear it won’t be easy.

February 3, 2012
Lawmakers closer on new district mapping
Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Thursday that lawmakers in the Republican Senate and Democratic House are close to an agreement on re-drawing the congressional district map.

February 3, 2012
Stumbo files anti-pill mill bill
Under provisions of a bill filed Thursday in the General Assembly, pain clinics would have to be owned by licensed health care practitioners and any health care professional who prescribes controlled substances would have to register with and utilize the state’s electronic tracking system.

February 3, 2012
Jill York files to run against Rocky Adkins
The new legislative district maps prompted some tough decisions by some key lawmakers – even before the new map and Tuesday’s filing deadline were cast into doubt by a Franklin Circuit Court restraining order.

February 1, 2012
Filing deadline extended for congressional races
While attorneys argued before a judge about the constitutionality of the state legislative redistricting plan, the General Assembly has extended the filing deadline for congressional races — because lawmakers can’t agree on a map for congressional districts.

January 31, 2012
GOP files suit over new state districts
Three Republican lawmakers and two private citizens filed suit Thursday in Franklin Circuit Court to have the House legislative redistricting plan declared unconstitutional.

January 27, 2012
Committee reviews pill mill bill
Just one day after state and federal law enforcement officials raided a Paintsville pain clinic for the second time in a year, a Senate committee Thursday began reviewing a bill to regulate such clinics.

January 27, 2012
Special election is Feb. 7 for Comer’s seat
The Feb. 7 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Rep. James Comer, who was elected Commissioner of Agriculture in November, will be conducted according to the previous district lines as they existed before the General Assembly re-drew the boundaries.

January 26, 2012
Beshear tries to get gambling in line
Republican Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown said Wednesday he is “strongly leaning toward sponsoring” Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear’s proposal for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling.

January 26, 2012
More State News Headlines

State News

Search Results

Discussion

Steve Nunn indicted in Ross murder

Site Map