Overview

Asha was a 9-year-old North Carolina girl who mysteriously disappeared on February 14, 2000, walking away from her home with a backpack, an unsolved case that continues with recent searches and ongoing FBI investigation for clues to her whereabouts, with authorities now suspecting homicide but seeking leads on a possible 70s-era green car seen near the time of her vanishing. 

Key Details of Her Disappearance:

– When: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2000, in Shelby, NC.
– Circumstances: She left home at night with a backpack, seen walking in the rain; motorists reported seeing her, and she ran from one who tried to help.
– Items Found: Her backpack was found later in Burke County.
– Leads: A potential 1970s dark green Lincoln Continental or Ford Thunderbird seen in the area.
– Current Status: Considered a homicide victim, with investigations ongoing by the FBI and local law enforcement, who continue to seek information. 

Detailed Case Breakdown

Asha was a 9-year-old North Carolina girl who mysteriously disappeared on February 14, 2000, walking away from her home with a backpack, an unsolved case that continues with recent searches and ongoing FBI investigation for clues to her whereabouts, with authorities now suspecting homicide but seeking leads on a possible 70s-era green car seen near the time of her vanishing. 

Key Details of Her Disappearance:

– When: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2000,
in Shelby, NC.
– Circumstances: She left home at night with a backpack, seen walking in the rain; motorists reported seeing her, and she ran from one who tried to help.
– Items Found: Her backpack was found later in Burke County.
– Leads: A potential 1970s dark green Lincoln Continental or Ford Thunderbird seen in the area.
– Current Status: Considered a homicide victim, with investigations ongoing by the FBI and local law enforcement, who continue to seek information. 


What happened:

– Asha Jaquilla Degree, a 9-year-old from Shelby, North Carolina, vanished on February 14, 2000. She was last seen by her parents asleep in her bedroom between about 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. that Valentine’s Day morning.
– Around 4 a.m., two motorists reported seeing a young girl matching Asha’s description walking on North Carolina Highway 18 in heavy wind and rain. When one driver attempted to approach her, she ran off into the woods. That sighting remains the last confirmed observation of her.

Initial Search and Early Evidence

– A massive search effort was launched immediately, involving local, state, and federal agencies; billboards and media appearances were used to raise awareness.
– In August 2001, more than a year later, Asha’s bookbag was found buried along Highway 18 about 30 miles from her home. Inside were items that did not belong to her — including a Dr. Seuss book and a New Kids on the Block T-shirt — suggesting that others may have been involved.

Long-Term Investigation

– For years the case remained unsolved, with law enforcement and the FBI re-examining leads and evidence. In 2015, the FBI formally joined the state and local investigation and created a consolidated database of leads.
– Investigators have considered the possibility that Asha left her home voluntarily, but they also believe someone else likely met her or had contact with her based on how little trace there is of her movements after leaving the house.

Investigation & Ongoing Efforts:

– Age-Progressions: The FBI and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) have released age-progressed images to show what she might look like today.
– Recent Searches: In 2025, searches were conducted on properties linked to individuals connected to the case, including the Dedman family, with warrants indicating belief she is a homicide victim.Rewards: Significant rewards are offered for information leading to a resolution. (100k So Far).


Recent Developments (2024–2025)

– In September 2024, new search warrants were executed in Cleveland County and surrounding areas. These were based on DNA evidence recovered from items in Asha’s bookbag, which reportedly matched two individuals connected to a local family known as the Dedmans. Investigators have suggested a possible connection between that family and the disappearance.
– Authorities also seized a green 1960s-era AMC Rambler from Dedmon property, resembling the older green vehicle previously reported by tipsters in connection with how Asha might have left the roadside on the night she disappeared.
– The Dedman family members deny involvement, and no arrests have been made; investigators are still analyzing evidence.

– The case, long listed as a missing child investigation, was reclassified as a homicide investigation in 2025 based on accumulated evidence that Asha did not leave voluntarily and that her body has likely been concealed.

How to Help:

If you have any information, contact the FBI or Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, as investigators believe even small details are crucial. 

A massive search effort was launched immediately, involving local, state, and federal agencies; billboards and media appearances were used to raise awareness.