Word for Word: The stunt man's split

By ALICIA CALDWELL, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2002

From letters filed in court in a case involving former motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel, 63, and his former wife, Krystal Kennedy-Knievel, 32.

On Feb. 20, a Pinellas County judge ordered Knievel to stay away from Kennedy-Knievel, who had accused him of hitting her and making threatening phone calls to her. The couple had been together for 10 years, two as husband and wife. They separated in July. Kennedy-Knievel lives in Clearwater, and Knievel has been staying in a motor home parked off Roosevelt Boulevard.

Knievel made hundreds of successful motorcycle jumps but failed in his highly publicized attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in 1974. In 1999, stricken with hepatitis C, he underwent liver transplant surgery at Tampa General Hospital.

In her letter to Knievel, his former wife refers to him by his given name, "Bob."

-- ALICIA CALDWELL, Times staff writer

Bob:

. . . It is impossible for me to look at you and not see that vindictive person that left those horribly cruel and viscous messages. . . . It may seem like a long time ago to you but to me it seems like yesterday. Those incidents were painful and obviously not something that can disappear.

I can honestly tell you that anything more than a simple friendship would be more than I could handle right now. Even that will be hard considering the circumstances. . . .

I can be your friend. I can see you out once in a while. But I can not get involved on a more personal level. I do not trust you not to revert back to the same cruel behavior once things don't go your way. . . .

Bob, you cannot treat somebody the way you have treated me these past five months and expect them to view you in the same light. You have a terrible Jeckyl and Hyde personality. It makes the thought of spending any amount of time with you scary.

K

Dear Krystal!

. . . It was also impossible for me to look at you+ not see that negative person that irritates me to no end some times, who also left me some insulting messages that were cruel+ sad. . . .

These incidents were not only painful, but brought much sadness that caused tears to flow because of the truthful+ honest love+ care that I have for you.

However, I did not mean under any circumstances what was said. It was a feeling of anger because of your actions that caused me to make statements in an irrational manner that I am sorry for. I think or hope that you feel the same way.

I can honestly tell you+ promise you that I can not handle a simple friendship with you. I love you more than anything in the world, I do not want you on a friendly basis having to know that you want to share your life with some one else other than me. . . .

You say that you can not get involved at a more personal level, well if you can't you can't. That is your decision, if you are not capable of it then you just are not that's it.

I have had some behavior problems+ some temper flares, serious ones, that was not completely my fault, I accept some responsibility for it but it was due to the horrible medication that I was on. It screwed me up+ that's all there is to it I could not help it!

. . . Finally in answer to your last paragraph, I take no exception to it. I have treated you wrong during the past months+ I did have a Jeckyl+ Hyde personality. "It was not the real me."

. . . If you will just try your best to be a loving wife jsut like you have been with not so much argumentive opinions+ a little more patience you will be perfect, just think perfect!

... You will never find any man on the face of this earth nor in eternity who will replace me or love you like I do.

I know that!

. . . I love you Krystal

Bob

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