Ex-Lawmaker Nunn Charged with Kentucky Insurance Employee Death

Lexington police have charged former Kentucky lawmaker Steve Nunn with murder the death of his ex-girlfriend.

Nunn, 56, was also charged with violation of a protective order. Lexington police said warrants were served on Nunn after he was taken Monday to the Hart County jail.

Nunn had been under guard at The Medical Center of Bowling Green since Friday, the same day Amanda Ross, 29, a Department of Insurance employee, was shot to death outside her Lexington town house.

Police found Nunn hours after the shooting at the Cosby cemetery in Hart County with what appeared to be self-inflicted wrist wounds. Nunn’s father, former Gov. Louie Nunn, and mother are buried in the cemetery.

Nunn also faces six counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly brandishing a .38-caliber handgun when he was found at the cemetery, about 95 miles southwest of the scene of the shooting.

Nunn ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003. He lost a bid for re-election to the state House in 2006 after 15 years as a state representative.

He returned to state government in 2007 as deputy secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but was put on administrative leave in February after being charged with domestic violence for allegedly striking Ross. He resigned in March.

According to Fayette County court records, Nunn was charged with domestic violence in February. A protective order protecting Ross from Nunn was in effect through March 2010, according to court records. Nunn was also ordered not to have any firearms in his possession for the duration of the restraining order.

Ross claimed in a February complaint that Nunn became violent during an argument at her home and hit her in the face four times, causing red marks and bruising.

The complaint also said Nunn pushed her against a wall, broke a lamp and threw a cup of bourbon at her, damaging the carpet.

Nunn said at the time that Ross blocked him from leaving her apartment, struck him in the face and threw him into the lamp.

Ross was director of financial standards and examination for the state insurance department.

Topics Legislation Kentucky