June 27, 2017 – On Sunday, June 25, Grass Valley Police Officers responded to the 300 block of Sutton Way in response to reports of an altercation occurring in an apartment. Upon arrival, officers found an unconscious male, 44-year-old Brian Sharp, in the apartment. Despite lifesaving efforts, Sharp was pronounced deceased by medical personnel who arrived at the scene.
Detectives from Grass Valley / Nevada City Joint Investigation Unit worked to determine what had occurred and if Sharp’s death was related to the altercation which had occurred prior to officers’ arrival.
The investigation led Detectives to believe that the Sharp’s ex-wife, 37-year-old Desiree Hayden, had come to his apartment and assaulted him. Hayden also injured one of their children who had attempted to intervene to protect Sharp. Sharp died shortly after struggling with Hayden. The details of why Hayden assaulted Sharp and the actual cause of death are still under investigation. Final autopsy results are pending.
Detectives also learned that Hayden had fled to the State of Nevada to elude the police. Over the next 24 hours, they obtained a warrant for Hayden’s arrest and worked with Nevada law enforcement agencies to locate Hayden.
On Monday, June 26, at 11:30 PM, Grass Valley Detectives were able to coordinate with Nevada Detectives and Hayden was located hiding in a closet in a residence in Reno. She was arrested and booked into the Washoe County jail for:
187(a) PC – Homicide
273d PC – Felony Child Abuse
Detectives are now working with the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office to have Desiree extradited back to Nevada County for prosecution.