June 12, 2014: Valerie Marie Owenby, who was then 12 years old, and her mother, Carol Lynn Owenby, report to the Henderson County sheriff’s office that James Franklin Sapp, a next door neighbor, had sexually assaulted her from the time she was 5 years old to the present.
Aug. 6, 2014: Sheriff’s Detective Tonya Reeves submits a search warrant application detailing Valerie’s accusations of sexual assault by Sapp from the time she was 5 until she was 12 and her accusations that Sapp “told her she would kill her dad if she told anyone” and when he stopped the abuse threatened to kill her family if she told anyone. The search warrant, granted by Superior Court Judge Mark Powell, compels Sapp to pose for photos from the waist down to corroborate Valerie’s statement that he had identifying marks around his penis area.
Valerie Owenby, known until now in court records at V.O., wants everyone to know her name.
Owenby grew up in the house her grandfather built, on a mountaintop in Henderson County. She lived there with her father, brother and grandparents at the end of a country road, surrounded by woods and very few neighbors.
The closest neighbor was James Franklin Sapp, who Owenby, now 22, said sexually assaulted, raped and terrorized her from age 5-12, most of her childhood.
“When I was 12 I started my period, and he decided not to do it anymore and told me to keep my mouth shut or my family would die,” Owenby said.
Alleged child rape survivor claims victimized again when DA lied, dropped charges
Valerie Owenby, known until now in court records at V.O., wants everyone to know her name.
Owenby grew up in the house her grandfather built, on a mountaintop in Henderson County. She lived there with her father, brother and grandparents at the end of a country road, surrounded by woods and very few neighbors.
The closest neighbor was James Franklin Sapp, who Owenby, now 22, said sexually assaulted, raped and terrorized her from age 5-12, most of her childhood.
“When I was 12 I started my period, and he decided not to do it anymore and told me to keep my mouth shut or my family would die,” Owenby said.