Woman in bucket truck case admitted to stabbing, said she was sexually assaulted, detective testifies

In a preliminary hearing Thursday morning, police said that Vanessa Napier admitted to killing John Sharp July 2 and told them Sharp had threatened her with a knife and had sexually assaulted her.

Sharp's body was found outside 5933 Athens-Walnut Hill Road on July 4, two days after he died. On July 3, Napier, 32, allegedly stole a bucket truck from its driver at a BP station, leading police in a two-county, 40-mile pursuit until the truck's back tires disintegrated.

After her arrest, Napier told police that she waited for Sharp to fall asleep before she assaulted him with a knife, Lexington police Detective Bill Brislin said. Sharp then chased Napier throughout the house and outside, where he collapsed, and Napier assaulted him again, Brislin said.

When officers went to the house July 4, there was an open door, and blood was throughout the home, Brislin said. They found Sharp outside the house and he had suffered multiple injuries from a sharp object, Brislin said.

Napier told police she had been drugged. According to Napier's attorney, Napier said Sharp had handcuffed her to a bed the night of July 2 and that she had bruises on her wrists.

No handcuffs were found at the house. Napier said Sharp had released her from the handcuffs, Brislin said.

Napier also indicated that she had been forced to perform oral sex, Brislin said.

After assaulting Sharp outside, Napier went back into the house, changed clothes and then tried to clean up evidence, Brislin said. She then went to a nearby house on Athens-Boonesboro Road where she had left a knife, Brislin said.

Napier had breakfast at a nearby hotel before allegedly stealing the bucket truck and leading police on the 40-mile pursuit.

Napier caused about $10,000 in damage to the bucket truck, Kentucky State Police trooper Mark Johnson said.

Fayette District Judge Megan Lake Thornton found probable cause for Napier's charges. Her case will now go to a grand jury. During Thursday's hearing, Napier appeared distressed, crying at one point.

Both Napier and Sharp have previous criminal records. How they first came in contact with each other, though, is unclear.

Police records from the arrest indicate that Napier was Sharp's girlfriend, but Sharp's family has said otherwise.

Lelaina Sharp, John Sharp's 20-year-old daughter, said it was not a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

"The past five years of his life, he was mentally ill," Lelaina Sharp said.

He was a good man, though, who saved hundreds of lives when he practiced as a surgeon, Sharp said. "He was just happy and wanted simple happiness."

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Woman in bucket truck case admitted to stabbing, said she was sexually assaulted, detective testifies."