A little girl went missing 24 years ago under frightening circumstances. Her hometown and the wider community, transfixed by her eerie disappearance, never forgot. Here are questions and answers about what’s known about the rapid developments in the disappearance of 9-year-old Asha Degree of Shelby.
What happened to Asha Degree?
In the middle of the night on Valentine’s Day in February 2000, the 4th grader went missing from her home. Asha’s family last saw her around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2000, when she was asleep in the bedroom she shared with her brother, according to the FBI. Drivers on N.C. 18 in Shelby later reported they saw her walking on the side of the road. That was at about 4 a.m., they told police after seeing Asha’s missing person flier flash across the news in the following days.
Asha’s parents reported her missing around 6:30 that morning, the FBI said.
“There was no sign of forced entry and no promising scent trail for search dogs to follow,” according to an FBI post. “That afternoon, investigators received at least two separate reports from individuals who said they saw a young female walking along Highway 18, in the opposite direction of the Degrees’ home, around 4 a.m.”
“One person said they went back to check on the girl but she had left the roadway and disappeared into the woods.”
What evidence was found over the years?
In 2001, Asha’s backpack was found buried along N.C. 18 in Burke County, with some belongings inside — a New Kids on the Block concert T-shirt and a “McElligot’s Pool” by Dr. Seuss book. The book had been checked out of her school library.
In May 2016, the FBI said it was looking for an early 1970s Lincoln Mark IV or Thunderbird, based on a tip that someone who looked like Asha may have gotten into a car like that on N.C. 18, around the time she disappeared.
In 2020, the FBI re-released photos of those types of cars.
Why was the case in the news again on Sept. 11?
Law-enforcement investigators have never given up on finding out what happened to Asha, as evidenced by a series of search warrants in three counties that were made public on Monday, Sept. 16.
Numerous media outlets were on scene on Sept. 11 at a property on Cherryville Road in Shelby when Cleveland County deputies, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI searched the grounds with dogs. Sheriff Alan Norman of Cleveland County confirmed that the search related to Asha.
Investigators towed a green car from the property, but it’s unclear if that vehicle is connected to the case.
Has anyone been charged?
No.
Are there suspects?
Yes, and they were named in the search warrants filed in court. Police searched Roy Lee Dedmon and Connie Elliott Dedmon’s properties on Cherryville Road and Hawthorne Lane. An attorney for Roy Dedmon has said he has cooperated with police and had no involvement in Asha’s disappearance.
Why has the case resonated with so many people?
From the start, people in Shelby and the Charlotte region were concerned about the mysterious disappearance of the girl, which was heavily covered by the press and on TV news.
Teams of search parties combed the area for years. Billboards with Asha’s picture popped up in the region. The FBI and law-enforcement regularly asked for tips from the public to help solve the case.
What did the sheriff recently say about the case?
Here’s the full statement Sept. 16 from the Cleveland County sheriff:
The joint investigation into the disappearance of 9-year-old Asha Degree continues. The search warrants executed last week by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and our state and federal partners were returned and are now public record. We are not providing copies of the warrants. Per NC records policies, copies can be picked up by journalists at the courthouse during regular business hours. We continue to follow evidence to locate Asha and determine what happened to her in the early morning hours of February 14, 2000, after she walked away from her home. At this time, no remains have been recovered and no one has been arrested. If you have information directly related to our investigation, call the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office at 704.484.4756.
“I know our community is anxious to learn about every aspect of our ongoing investigation. While we appreciate your support, I urge you to put yourself in the place of Asha’s family who for 24 years have entrusted law enforcement to do everything possible to find her. Please do not spread or share rumors on social media. Official information will be released by my office when appropriate. Pray for Asha, her family, and everyone who has worked for decades to locate Shelby’s Sweetheart.”
How can I give law enforcement a tip in the case?
If you have information about the case that could help investigators solve it, you can call the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office at 704-484-4756.
Observer staff writer Joe Marusak and public safety editor Patrick Wilson contributed.
This story was originally published September 19, 2024 1:06 PM.
