UPDATE: Asha Degree
When nine-year-old Asha Degree vanished on Valentine’s Day in 2000, it devastated her family and small town of Shelby, North Carolina. After years of little to no new information, the case has broken wide open and authorities may be closer than ever to solving what they are now saying is a murder.
Ashley and Brit originally covered Asha’s case for Crime Junkie in 2019, but with all the new information that’s come out in February 2025, Ashley asked investigative journalist and North Carolina native Delia D’Ambra to join her to dive into the case with a fresh perspective.
Listen to Ashley and Brit’s original episode, MISSING: Asha Degree, wherever you get your podcasts!
An age-progressed photo from 2015 of what Asha may look like at age 24.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/07/asha-degree-march/23066773/
1964 AMC Rambler with front end damage photographed at Dedmon property in September 2024.
Courtesy of Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
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If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- The Associated Press via The Star-News: Girls Disappearance baffles investigators. By staff. Published March 15, 2000. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=20000315&id=RFhIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4994,6249297
- Star-News: Items may be linked to missing girl, 9. By Staff. Published August 7, 2001. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=20010807&id=DA5PAAAAIBAJ&pg=5633,1930339
- The Gaston Gazette: Book bag may hold more than meets eye. By Joy Scott. Published August 10, 2001. Accessed February 19, 2025. Via newspaperarchive.com https://newspaperarchive.com/crime-clipping-aug-10-2001-241852/
- The Cleveland County Star: Asha bookbag results back from FBI. By Joy Scott and Megan Diskin. Published July 26, 2003. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20080726182509/http://www.shelbystar.com/news/evidence_7290___article.html/bookbag_asha.html
- WBTV: 10 years since Asha Degree’s disappearance. By staff. Published February 10, 2010. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/11963603/10-years-since-asha-degrees-disappearance/
- WBTV: New FBI push to find Asha Degree, missing for 12 years. By Chris Dyches. Published February 14, 2012. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/16931539/missing-young-girls-case-gets-new-light-12-years-after-disappearance/
- WBTV: After 15 years, Asha Degree’s family walks with hope of return. By staff. Published February 8, 2015. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/28052471/after-15-years-asha-degrees-family-walks-with-hope-of-return/
- WBTV: $45,000 reward for info in disappearance of Shelby girl missing 15 years. By staff. Published February 9, 2015. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/28059938/45000-in-rewards-for-15-year-missing-shelby-girl/
- WBTV: Search continues for missing Shelby girl 16 years later. By staff. Published February 16, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/31233665/search-continues-for-missing-shelby-girl-16-years-later/
- WBTV: FBI: Asha Degree may have gotten into a dark green car on night of disappearance. By staff. Published May 25, 2016. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/story/32060748/fbi-asha-degree-may-have-gotten-into-a-dark-green-car-on-night-of-disappearance/
- The Charlotte Observer: Book, band t-shirt are new clues to NC girl’s disappearance in 2000, detective says. By Jane Wester. Published October 9, 2018. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article219720915.html
- FBI.gov: Investigators Seek Public Assistance in 20-Year Missing Girl Investigation. By Shelley Lynch. Published February 14, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/20th-anniversary-of-asha-degree-disappearance-021420
- WBTV: Cleveland County Sheriff, investigators remain committed to case 20 years after Asha Degree’s disappearance. Published February 14, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2020/02/14/cleveland-county-sheriff-investigators-remain-committed-case-years-after-asha-degrees-disappearance/
- Inside The FBI Podcast: Searching for Asha Degree. By Monica Grover. Published February 13, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/inside-the-fbi-searching-for-asha-degree-021422.mp4/view
- WBTV: Car towed from Cleveland County property amid FBI search. By Cassidy Johncox. Published September 11, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/09/11/car-towed-cleveland-county-property-amid-fbi-search/
- WBTV: FBI search in Cleveland County tied to case of missing girl, sheriff confirms. By Cassidy Johncox. Published September 13, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/09/13/fbi-search-cleveland-county-tied-case-missing-girl-sheriff-confirms/
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for 621 Cherryville Road Address. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for 5106 Hawthorne Lane Road Address. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for 7426 Walnut Wood Drive Address. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for A.V.D.R. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for C.E.D. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for North Brook Rest Home. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for R.L.D. Executed September 10, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for 601 Cherryville Road Address. Executed September 11, 2024. Hard copies only, no direct link. (obtained via direct download from WBTV.com)
- WBTV: Cleveland County investigators think missing girl Asha Degree was killed, warrants reveal. By Cassidy Johncox. Published September 16, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/09/16/cleveland-county-investigators-think-missing-girl-asha-degree-was-killed-warrants-reveal/
- WBTV: Warrant: Suspect in Asha Degree case seen digging ‘chest-deep hole’ on Shelby property. By Luke Tucker. Published September 18, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/09/18/warrant-suspect-asha-degree-case-seen-digging-chest-deep-hole-shelby-property/
- WBTV: Warrant: Suspect in Asha Degree case seen digging ‘chest-deep hole’ on Shelby property. By Cassidy Johncox. Published September 19, 2024. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2024/09/19/asha-degree-case-read-warrants-cleveland-county-shelby-raids-here/
- WSOC via Yahoo News: ‘I have hope’: Asha Degree’s family continues search 25 years after disappearance. By Ken Lemon. Published February 8, 2025. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.yahoo.com/news/hope-asha-degree-family-continues-224925450.html
- WBTV: Search for Asha Degree, Shelby’s Sweetheart, stretches into 25th year. By Brandy Beard and Mary King. Published February 11, 2025 Accessed February 19, 2025.
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for Apple iPhone 14 Pro operated by L.G.F. Executed February 13, 2025. Hard copies only, no direct link.
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for Apple iPhone 11 Pro operated by R.L.D. Executed February 13, 2025. Hard copies only, no direct link.
- Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Search Warrant for Apple iPhone 11 Pro operated by S.W.C. Executed February 13, 2025. Hard copies only, no direct link.
- WBTV: New Asha Degree warrants: text messages revealed, possible admission of fault, more. By Cassidy Johncox and Brandy Beard. Published February 18, 2025 Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2025/02/18/new-asha-degree-warrants-text-messages-revealed-possible-admission-fault-more/
- WCNC: ‘The theory is I did it’: new text messages revealed in Asha Degree search warrants. By Hank Lee. Published February 18, 2025 Accessed February 19, 2025.
- WBTV: New details about car at center of Asha Degree case revealed in 2025 search warrants. By Brandy Beard. Published February 19, 2025 Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.wbtv.com/2025/02/19/new-details-about-car-center-asha-degree-case-revealed-2025-search-warrants/
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