Published: November 10, 2009 05:02 pm      

Steve Nunn indicted in Ross murder

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.