{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | image_size = | caption = | name = Steve Nunn | state_house = Kentucky | district = 23rd | term_start = January 1, 1991 | term_end = January 1, 2007 | preceded = Bobby H. Richardson | succeeded = Johnny Bell | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|11|4}} | birth_place = Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | spouse = Tracey L. Damron (divorced)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Urbina|first1=Ian|title=A Murder Raises Hard Questions in Kentucky|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/us/13kentucky.html|access-date=February 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 12, 2009}}</ref> | children = 2 | parents = Louie Nunn<br />Beula Cornelius Aspley Nunn | party = Republican | occupation = Politician | footnotes = }}
'''Stephen Roberts Nunn''' (born November 4, 1952) is an American convicted murderer and former politician who served as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Family Services for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
From 1991 to 2007, he was a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from his native Barren County in southern Kentucky. In 2011, Nunn received a life sentence without parole after pleading guilty to the murder of his ex-fiancée.
==Early life== He is the son of the late Kentucky governor Louie B. Nunn and First Lady Beula Cornelius Aspley Nunn.<ref name="WLEX">{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32801051/ns/local_news-lexington_ky/|title=Former Governor's Son In Custody After Fatal Shooting|date=September 11, 2009|publisher=WLEX-TV via MSNBC.com|access-date=September 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914155552/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32801051/ns/local_news-lexington_ky|archive-date=September 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name = abcn>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/steve-nunn-kentucky-state-representative-murderer/story?id=15894544|last1=Phillips|first1=Harry|last2=Sancho|first2=Miguel|title=Revenge for Real: How Did a Promising Legislator Become a Killer?|publisher=ABC News|date=March 14, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> He graduated from Frankfort High School in 1970, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Transylvania University in 1975. He attended the University of Louisville School of Law, but did not graduate.<ref name = abcn/><ref name = hl>{{cite news |last1=Brammer |first1=Jack |last2=Musgrave | first2=Beth |date=September 12, 2009 |title=Ex-lawmaker known for social advocacy |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/special-reports/steve-nunn/article44008068.html|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |location= Lexington, Kentucky |access-date=January 31, 2019}}</ref>
==Outside of politics== In 1987, Nunn bought into an insurance company in Glasgow. He later became a physician recruiter and consultant for TJ Samson Hospital.<ref name = hl/>
==Political career== Nunn was elected to represent the 23rd district in the state's House of Representatives in 1990 after incumbent representative Bobby H. Richardson retired, defeating Democrat Danny J. Basil. The district had precincts in Barren and Metcalfe counties.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1990-1999/1990/90staterep.txt|title= General Election, November 6, 1990|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref> In 1996, the precincts in Metcalfe County would be replaced by precincts in Warren County.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1990-1999/1996/96Gen_staterep.txt|title= General Election, November 5, 1996|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref> He ran unopposed in 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1990-1999/1998/98Gen_statereprev1.txt|title= General Election, November 3, 1998|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref> 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2000-2009/2000/00Gen_Statewidebyoffice.txt|title= REPORT OF "OFFICIAL" ELECTION NIGHT TALLY RESULTS, 2000|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref> 2002,<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2000-2009/2002/General%20Election/2002statebyoffice.txt|title= REPORT OF "OFFICIAL" ELECTION NIGHT TALLY RESULTS, 2002|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref> and 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2000-2009/2004/General%20Election/2004statebyoffice.txt|title= REPORT OF "OFFICIAL" ELECTION NIGHT TALLY RESULTS, 2004|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Elections}}</ref>
While in office, Nunn was known as a relative liberal who championed women, children and the disadvantaged.<ref name = abcn/><ref name = hl/> in 1998, he co-sponsored a law making it a death penalty offense for a person named in a domestic violence protective order to kill the person who was protected by the order.<ref name = abcn/> He was an advocate for the Kentucky TeleHealth Network which he helped create with the passage of HB-177 and HB-112 in 2000. The network used electronic medical communications systems to help reach patients in rural settings who couldn't travel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uky.edu/PR/News/MCPRNews/2001/telehealth.htm|title=Kentucky TeleHealth Network Expands|publisher=University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center|access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.murraystate.edu/Libraries/CTSM/Spring2002.pdf|title=TeleHealth In West Kentucky|publisher=Murray State University|access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref> In 2001, he was able to pass a bill that gave children in foster care, and former foster care children, the ability to attend state universities in Kentucky for free.<ref name = hl/> In 2005, he was able to pass a pilot program that used $100,000 in Kentucky Department of Medicaid funding to place telemedicine equipment in fourteen schools and fifteen other sites. These sites could connect with clinics and, it was hoped, reduce school time missed for illnesses and avoid costly emergency room visits.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kinslow |first=Gina |date=November 19, 2005 |title=Technology brings new meaning to house calls |url=https://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/local_news/technology-brings-new-meaning-to-house-calls/article_00c5f7c4-ee9e-5888-a948-39d7e6062e54.html|newspaper=Glasgow Daily Times |location= Glasgow, Kentucky |access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techlines.ky.gov/2006/mar/telehealth_pilot.htm|title=New Telecare Program Reaching Rural Children at School|publisher=Commonwealth of Kentucky|access-date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>
Nunn unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003, finishing third to then-United States Representative Ernie Fletcher of Lexington, whom Nunn then supported. Former State Representative Bob Heleringer, then of Eastwood in suburban Jefferson County, ran as the lieutenant governor selection on Nunn's ticket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/politics/labels/state%20senate.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120020450/http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/politics/labels/state%20senate.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2013|title=Heleringer to run for Senate, June 13, 2007|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref> In the primary, Nunn received 21,167 votes (13.4 percent), but Fletcher led the four-candidate field with 90,912 (57.3 percent). Rebecca Jackson polled 44,084 (27.8 percent) and Virgil Moore polled 2,365 (1.5 percent). Fletcher went on to win the position in the general election by defeating Democratic Attorney General Ben Chandler, the grandson of Happy Chandler. Fletcher was the first Republican to be elected governor of Kentucky since Louie B. Nunn upset Henry Ward in November 1967.
On November 7, 2006, after nearly 16 years as a state representative,<ref name="AP">{{cite news|url=http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/story/Former-Kentucky-Lawmaker-No-Longer-Facing-Charges/u1vW1Q7j0kmQBgoELOhlVA.cspx?rss=675|title=Former Kentucky Lawmaker No Longer Facing Charges|publisher=Associated Press via WPSD-TV|access-date=September 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916160415/http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/story/Former-Kentucky-Lawmaker-No-Longer-Facing-Charges/u1vW1Q7j0kmQBgoELOhlVA.cspx?rss=675|archive-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> Nunn lost his bid for re-election to the Democrat Johnny Bell. Nunn polled 5,572 votes (46.7 percent) to Bell's 6,371 ballots (53.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electioncentral.tv/Election2006/Barren/Output/bcoutput.php|title=Election results, November 7, 2006|publisher=electioncentral.tv|access-date=October 14, 2009}}{{dead link|date=January 2017}}</ref>
In September 2007, Nunn announced his support of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Beshear, a former lieutenant governor who handily unseated Fletcher in the Republican's bid for re-election.<ref name = abcn/> In November 2007 he was appointed to Beshear's transition team.<ref>{{cite press release |date=November 16, 2007 |title=Richmond Businessman Lee Murphy to Serve on Governor's Transition Team |url=https://chapel.us/company/press/Lee-Gov.htm |location=Richmond, Kentucky|publisher=Chapel Communications |access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> On December 22, 2007, Beshear appointed Nunn as deputy secretary of Health and Family Services.<ref name = abcn/>
==Murder of ex-fiancée== In March 2009, Steve Nunn, 56, resigned his state position as deputy secretary for the Health and Family Services Cabinet after having been placed on administrative leave in February as a result of a February 19 assault in Lexington on 29-year-old Amanda Ross, his former fiancée, who had procured a protective order against him for domestic violence.<ref name="InquisitrSep2009">{{cite news|last1=Lacrapia|first1=Kim|title=KY Rep. Steve Nunn arrested after girlfriend Amanda Ross found dead|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/37146/ky-rep-steve-nunn-arrested-after-girlfriend-amanda-ross-found-dead/|access-date=September 11, 2009|work=ABC|publisher=The Inquisitr News|date=September 11, 2009|ref=InquisitrSep2009}}</ref>
On September 11, 2009, Ross was found shot to death outside of the Opera House Square complex in Lexington.<ref name="abc082012">{{cite news|last1=Sechrist|first1=Adam|title=Victim's Mom Fights for Stalker Law|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/amandas-law-daughters-murder-mom-fights-victim-protection/story?id=15903165|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=ABC News|publisher=ABC News|date=March 13, 2012|ref=abc082012}}</ref> That same day, Nunn was found by police with his wrists slit in Hart County near the grave sites of his parents.<ref name="HL">{{cite news|last1=Martinez|first1=Edecio|title=Former Rep. Steven Nunn Charged With Killing Ex-Girlfriend Amanda Ross|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-rep-steven-nunn-charged-with-killing-ex-girlfriend-amanda-ross/|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=CBS News|agency=(AP)|publisher=CBS News Interactive|date=September 15, 2009|ref=HL|location=Frankfort, Kentucky}}</ref> He was arrested and taken to a hospital in Bowling Green,<ref name="WLEX" /> where he was in fair condition from the wounds, which were first considered to be self-inflicted.<ref name="HL" /><ref name="WKYT">{{cite news|url=http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/58996767.html|title=Ex-fiancee of lawmaker shot and killed in Lexington; Politician wanted for questioning |date=September 11, 2009|publisher=WKYT-TV|access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> Nunn was charged with six counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer because when authorities arrived to arrest him, they reported that Nunn had fired a .38-caliber handgun.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/75249.html|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers / Lexington Herald-Leader|last1=Clark|first1=Ashlee|last2=Estep |first2=Bill |last3=Wilson |first3=Amy|date=September 11, 2009|title=Kentucky GOP ex-lawmaker arrested; ex-fiance is dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915174147/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/75249.html|archive-date=September 15, 2009}}</ref>
On September 14, Nunn was taken to the Hart County jail after having been discharged from the hospital.<ref name="Lexington jail">{{cite news|last1=Ronnie|first1=Ellis|last2=Simpson Strange|first2=Lisa|title=Nunn moved to Lexington jail|url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/news/local_news/nunn-moved-to-lexington-jail/article_d598275f-a05e-5893-b11b-60e1b0640439.html|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=The Independent Online|date=September 17, 2009|ref=Lexington jail}}</ref> The same day, Nunn was charged by Lexington police with Ross's murder.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Karla|last2=Alessi|first2=Ryan|last3=Estep|first3=Bill|title=Prominent Kentucky GOP pol charged with murder in ex-fiancee's death|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24554974.html|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|publisher=McClatchyDC|date=September 14, 2009|location=Munfordville, Kentucky}}</ref> On September 17, Nunn was transferred to the Fayette County Detention Center.<ref name="Clark">{{cite news|url=http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/940802.html|title=Nunn pleads not guilty in murder case|last=Clark|first=Ashlee|date=September 18, 2009|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|access-date=September 18, 2009}}</ref> The next day, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in Fayette District Court.<ref name="glasgow">{{cite news|last1=Ellis|first1=Ronnie|title=Nunn pleads not guilty to murder charges|url=http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/archives/nunn-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-charges/article_13eef73c-969f-507c-8083-905cb19d3972.html|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=Glasgow Daily Times|agency=CNHI News Service|date=November 19, 2009|ref=glasgow}}</ref> On November 10, 2009, Nunn was indicted on charges of murder and violating a protective order.<ref name="Spears 1110">{{cite news|url=http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/1013745.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112223706/http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/1013745.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2009|title=Nunn indicted on murder charge|last=Spears|first=Valarie Honeycutt|author2=Clark, Ashlee|date=November 10, 2009|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|access-date=November 10, 2009}}</ref> Prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gazaway|first1=Charles|title=Prosecutors to seek death penalty against Steve Nunn|url=http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=12266356|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=WAVE News|publisher=Frankly Media and WAVE|date=May 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173634/http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=12266356|archive-date=March 3, 2016|location=Louisville, Kentucky}}</ref> but on June 28, 2011, Nunn pleaded guilty in Fayette Circuit Court in Lexington to Ross's murder and received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the crime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110628/NEWS01/306280062/Steve-Nunn-pleads-guilty-murder-gets-life-sentence?odyssey=nav%7Chead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119183348/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110628/NEWS01/306280062/Steve-Nunn-pleads-guilty-murder-gets-life-sentence?odyssey=nav%7Chead|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2013|title=Steve Nunn pleads guilty to murder, gets life sentence|date=June 27, 2011|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=January 27, 2015}}</ref> He is currently serving his sentence at the Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, under Department of Corrections (DOC) ID #246151.<ref>[http://kool.corrections.ky.gov/KOOL/Details/313971 Kentucky Online Offender Search (KOOL) - Kentucky Department of Corrections]</ref>
As of November 4, 2014, Nunn was eligible to receive his full state pension of $28,210 annually, based on his legislative and executive department service. State law permits pension benefits to former lawmakers unless they commit a crime while in office as a legislator.<ref name="insurance">{{cite news|last1=Barrouquere|first1=Brett|title=Kentucky's Nunn Found Liable for Wrongful Death in Insurance Examiner Killing|url=http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2012/11/15/270629.htm|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=Insurance Journal|publisher=Wells Media Group, Inc.|date=November 15, 2012|ref=insurance}}</ref>
Meanwhile, the Ross family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Nunn.<ref name="kentucky.comJune2011">{{cite news|last1=Brammer|first1=Jack|title=Steve Nunn will receive state pension despite murder conviction|url=http://www.kentucky.com/news/special-reports/steve-nunn/article44106174.html|access-date=January 26, 2017|work=kentucky.com|publisher=Lexington Herald Leader|date=June 30, 2011|ref=kentucky.comJune2011|location=Frankfort, Kentucky}}</ref> In August 2013, a Fayette Circuit Judge ordered Steve Nunn to pay Ross's family more than $24 million for killing her outside her Lexington home in 2009.<ref name="wkyt2013"/>
The judge ruled Nunn to pay $20 million for punitive damages. The judge also commanded Nunn to pay $23,000 for medical costs, $27,000 for funeral costs, $3 million for Ross's future earning potential, along with pain and suffering to Ross and to the estate at one million dollars.<ref name="wkyt2013">{{cite news|title=Ex-lawmaker Steve Nunn must pay Ross family more than $20M|url=http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Judge-to-determine-how-much-Steve-Nunn-will-pay-Ross-family-220250901.html|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=wkyt.com|publisher=WKYT|date=August 19, 2013|ref=wkyt2013|location=Lexington, Kentucky}}</ref>
==Amanda's Law== In the months after her daughter's murder, Diana Ross began advocating for the protection of other victims of domestic violence. She wanted to bring more light to domestic-violence, under the title of Amanda's Law. The law was passed in 2010 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.<ref name="wave3">{{cite news|last1=MacDonald|first1=Janelle|title=Amanda's Law with GPS tracking goes into effect|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/12814121/amandas-law-with-gps-tracking-goes-into-effect|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=Wave News|publisher=Raycom Media|ref=wave3|location=Louisville, Kentucky}}</ref> It increases the use of GPS tracking units to enhance the protection of victims from domestic violence and their past attackers.<ref name="wave3"/> Diana pointed out the law that passed was not as strong as she advocated for.<ref name="abc082012"/> {{Reduced pull quote|1=left|width=100%|2=It's not effective right now, The judges are not using it yet. And it's my fear that it's going to take another high-profile murder to get their attention.|3=Diana Ross|4=commenting on Amanda's Law.<ref name="abc082012"/>}} Judges can invoke the law on a case-by-case basis after a protective order has been violated.<ref name="abc082012"/>
According to the federal Electronic Monitoring Resource Center at Denver University, there are currently 12 states with laws allowing judges to order the wearing of GPS tracking units. The units send an alarm to both the victim and police if the perpetrator enters areas restricted by the protection order.<ref name="abc082012"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Green|first1=Ariana|title=More States Embrace GPS Monitoring in Abuse Cases|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/us/09gps.html|access-date=January 27, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=May 8, 2009}}</ref>
==Media== The investigative television show ''20/20 on OWN''{{'s}} episode "Sins of the Son" (Season 3, Episode 52) examines the Steve Nunn case, using the ''20/20'' story that originally aired September 19, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=20/20 on OWN|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/2020-on-own/589368/|website=TVGuide.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sins of the Son - 20/20 on OWN|url=http://tv-episodes.prettyfamous.com/l/1699629/Sins-of-the-Son|website=tv-episodes.prettyfamous.com|access-date=March 25, 2017|language=en-us}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
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==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nunn, Steve}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:American politicians convicted of murder Category:21st-century American murderers Category:American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Category:Criminals from Kentucky Category:Kentucky politicians convicted of crimes Category:Republican Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives Category:People from Glasgow, Kentucky Category:People convicted of murder by Kentucky Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Kentucky Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:20th-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:Violence against women in Kentucky