Mary Kay Letourneau First Husband: Meet Steve Letourneau

Long before the infamous scandal that would define Mary Kay Letourneau’s life, there was Steve Letourneau—the first husband and father of her four children.

Mary Schmitz, as she was known before her later notoriety, met fellow student Steve Letourneau at Arizona State University. The two young lovers decided to tie the knot, conceiving the first of their four children during their time together.

After getting married, the Letourneaus moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Steve found employment as a baggage handler for Alaska Airlines. Their relocation marked the beginning of a series of changes and challenges for the couple.

In pursuit of her own goals, Mary Letourneau graduated from Seattle University in 1989 with a teaching degree. Subsequently, she began teaching second grade at Shorewood Elementary School in Burien, a suburb of Seattle. While Mary pursued her career, financial problems and extramarital affairs began to strain their marriage.

The Letourneaus faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and infidelity on both sides. Reports from Mary’s attorney and former neighbor, David Gehrke, suggested that she endured emotional and physical abuse during her marriage to Steve. Incidents escalated to the point where she sought medical treatment, and the police were involved, although no charges were filed.

In 1999, while Mary Kay Letourneau was serving her prison sentence for the relationship with Vili Fualaau, the Letourneaus’ marriage came to an end. Steve Letourneau gained custody of their four children during this difficult period.