A Kentucky judge has issued a restraining order preventing Glenna Bevin, ex-wife of former Governor Matt Bevin, from making any contact with their adopted son, Jonah Bevin. The order comes after Jonah, now 18, petitioned the court for protection from both of his adoptive parents.
Former Gov. Matt Bevin is already under a six-month protective order prohibiting communication with Jonah. The young man has accused the Bevins of abandoning him at a youth facility in Jamaica when he was 17, describing it as a place of severe abuse.
In recent court proceedings, Jonah told the judge that his adoptive parents attempted to orchestrate his removal from the country by arranging a sudden trip to Ethiopia. According to his filing, the couple claimed they had located his biological mother—someone Jonah had been told had died years earlier.
“I think they were trying to make me disappear,” Jonah wrote in a court document.
Both Matt and Glenna Bevin have declined to respond to media requests regarding the allegations.
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Questions Surround Biological Family
Jonah’s attorney, Dawn J. Post, expressed deep skepticism about the Bevins’ claims regarding Jonah’s birth mother. Despite efforts to verify her existence, no evidence has surfaced. Jonah was adopted from Ethiopia at the age of five, along with three other children. The Bevins also have five biological children, most of whom are now adults.
“He still wants to know the truth about his background,” Post said. “We’re launching our own investigation to try and locate any family he may have.”
In a ruling issued Monday, Jefferson Circuit Judge Angela Johnson directed the Bevins to turn over any information related to Jonah’s adoption and his biological family within seven days.
Divorce Settlement Raises Concerns
A separate hearing scheduled for April 21 will address whether the divorce settlement between Matt and Glenna Bevin will remain sealed. Although the couple reached a settlement last month, they have requested that it be kept private.
Both Jonah and The Courier Journal have filed motions to keep the records public. Jonah’s attorneys argue that transparency is essential, given his lack of support and the seriousness of his claims.
“Jonah has no advocate currently participating in the divorce case,” stated a motion submitted by attorneys John Helmers Jr. and Melina Hettiaratchi. “He believes his adoptive parents have failed to disclose their history of abuse and neglect to the court—failing to meet even the most basic requirements of care, safety, and education.”
Jonah has also alleged he suffered mistreatment while living in the Bevin household, adding further urgency to his request for information and protection.