UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: ASHA DEGREE

Posted byadminPosted inEpisodesTags:, , , ,

When a young girl vanishes into a dark and stormy night, investigators are baffled by her disappearance. One of the most mysterious unsolved cases in North Carolina history is explored in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 UPDATE

On September 10th and 11th, 2024, the FBI, North Carolina State Police and Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office worked together to execute search warrants at 621 Cherryville Road and 601 Cherryville Road in Shelby, North Carolina. Both properties are located less than 4 miles (or about 6.5 kilometers) from where 9-year-old Asha Degree was last seen alive on the night of February 14th, 2000. The properties are owned by Roy and Connie Dedmon, who investigators identified as suspects in a search warrant.

Search warrants have been made public and reveal that investigators believe Asha was “the victim of a homicide, with her body concealed”. Among other revelations, it reveals that investigators located a green 1964 AMC Rambler at 601 Cherryville Road. The Rambler significantly resembles the suspect vehicle that has long been sought in relation to Asha’s case, and has been seized as evidence by investigators. Other items seized during the searches include—but are not limited to—a variety of electronic items. Investigators also executed searches at a home in Charlotte, and an assisted living facility.

The warrants also reveal that DNA evidence is what led law enforcement to investigate the Dedmon family. Specifically, a hair belonging to one of the Dedmon’s children (a minor at the time of Asha’s disappearance) was located on a shirt that had belonged to Asha, and was found in the backpack Asha was carrying on the night of her disappearance. DNA belonging to an associate (now deceased) of the Dedmon family was also located on the same shirt.

So far, no charges have been filed against any member of the Dedmon family, or anyone else, in relation to Asha’s disappearance and presumed death. Investigative progress appears to be being made quickly, and we are awaiting the release of more information from law enforcement before creating an update episode.

Asha Degree was 9-years-old when she disappeared from Shelby, North Carolina on February 14th, 2000. She left her home on foot at night, for unknown reasons. Image source: family photo.
Asha was a skilled athlete who played on multiple local sport teams. Image source: family photo.
A billboard featuring information on Asha’s disappearance has long been displayed in Shelby, North Carolina.
This age-progressed photo shows what Asha might look like as an adult. Image source: NCMEC.
A copy of the book “McElligot’s Pool” by Dr Seuss was found in a backpack belonging to Asha.
This New Kids on the Block t-shirt was found in a backpack belonging to Asha. It’s origin is unknown, as it did not belong to her. Image source: law enforcement photo.
A car resembling this example photo is believed to have been involved in Asha’s case, and has long been sought by law enforcement. In September of 2024, investigators located a similar car at a residence in Shelby, NC and seized it as evidence.
Asha was a sweet and intelligent child with a talent for sports. She is badly missed by her parents and brother, who have not seen her since her disappearance in February of 2024. Investigators believe she was a homicide victim. Image source: family photo.

Sources used to research this case:

Clues Sought in Disappearance of 9-Year-Old Who Disappeared 20 Years Ago (FBI)

Missing & Black: What Happened to Asha Degree? (Anslem Samuel Rocque / Jet Magazine)

National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview (OJJDP)

Girl’s Disappearance Baffles Investigators (Star News, March 15, 2000)

Sleep Walking & Sleep Talking (AASM)

Sleepwalking (Mayo Clinic)

Items Found, But Still No Asha (Andrew Dys / The Star)

If you have any information about the disappearance of Asha Degree, call the FBI at 704- 672-6100 or the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office at 704 484-4822.

4 thoughts on “UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: ASHA DEGREE”

    1. LOL! Sorry if that anecdote was confusing. As far as I know, she wasn’t a fan, but when I was a kid I found a NKOTB puzzle under her couch, and I remember wondering who the heck they were. They were *slightly* before my time–I was a kid during the height of the Backstreet Boys’ and Britney Spears’ popularity. I suspect the puzzle had been lurking under her couch since my infancy. Maybe it was something one of my older second-cousins played with. But to me, it seemed like a relic from a distant time.

      -Leah

      Like

      Reply

      1. Ha, whew. I know I’m old but I legit thought I was losing my mind. Fans of NKOTB were pretty young – like 9 – 13, not teenagers. So if you figure the height of their popularity was around 1990, fans would have been roughly 18 – 23 or so around the time Asha went missing. Which means a kid Asha’s age with older siblings or cousins could very well have such a shirt – I know her family said it wasn’t hers, but your analysis made it sound like the owner of the shirt would have been 30-40 or older at the time, which I think is off.

        Like

      2. Yeah, I guess they’re not *quite* ancient history. 🙂

        I think it’s totally plausible that the shirt could’ve belonged to the older sibling or cousin of someone Asha’s age, as you suggested. For that matter, maybe I would’ve been familiar with them prior to the couch discovery if I had older siblings (I’m the oldest among mine).

        Like

Leave a reply to progressivist Cancel reply