đź“ŤThe Vanishing Valentine: Inside the Unsolved Disappearance of Asha Degree
đź“ŤThe Vanishing Valentine: Inside the Unsolved Disappearance of Asha Degree
By The Sassy Gazette | Investigative Spotlight Series
“We still have hope.” Iquilla Degree, mother of Asha Degree
On a stormy February night in 2000, 9-year-old Asha Degree walked out of her home in Shelby, North Carolina, with a packed bookbag and into the night. She was never seen again. What followed was one of the most haunting and perplexing child disappearance cases in recent U.S. history. A case that, despite national attention, groundbreaking forensic updates, and unwavering family advocacy, remains unsolved 25 years later.
This is a comprehensive look into everything we know and still don’t about the disappearance of Shelby’s Sweetheart: Asha Jaquilla Degree.
đź“… The Timeline: Asha’s Last Known Movements
- February 13–14, 2000: Asha went to bed after 8 p.m. and was last seen asleep by her father around 2:30 a.m. By morning, she was gone. Somewhere between those hours, she packed a small bookbag, left her home on foot, and was spotted by two motorists on NC Highway 18 between 3:45–4:15 a.m., walking alone in the rain. When one driver turned around, Asha ran into the woods.
- February 14–20, 2000: An intensive search was launched. No signs of struggle. No known reason to run. Found nearby in a shed: candy wrappers, a pencil, a marker, a yellow hair bow, and a photo of an unknown girl. All but the photo were confirmed to be Asha’s.
- August 3, 2001: A major clue: Asha’s bookbag was found buried 30 miles away in Burke County. Inside? Her library book, a concert T-shirt she never owned, and other items. It had been double-wrapped in black plastic.
🕵️♀️ Two Decades of Investigative Twists
- 2004: A tip leads to excavation only animal bones found.
- 2015–2016: FBI and SBI rejoin the investigation. A new lead emerges: Asha may have entered a green 1970s-style vehicle.
- 2017: FBI’s CARD Team launches on-the-ground reanalysis.
- 2018: Two mystery items from Asha’s buried bag are revealed: a New Kids on the Block shirt and a Dr. Seuss book not checked out by her.
- 2020: Inmate falsely claims he knows what happened to Asha.
- 2024–2025: Breakthrough: Forensic DNA leads to Ann “Annie” Dedmon Ramirez and Russell Underhill. Investigators now believe Asha was killed and her body concealed. Several search warrants executed and phones seized.
đź’ˇ Theories: What Might Have Happened?
Despite Asha being only 9 years old, the prevailing theories include:
- Lured from home by someone she knew
- Accidentally struck by a vehicle (possibly by a teen driver)
- Abducted by a stranger in a green car
- Foul play involving a cover-up, supported by new evidence and witness testimony
The once-whispered rumors about the Dedmon family and their acquaintance Russell Underhill are now at the center of the official investigation.
📢 Media, Community & Family: Keeping the Flame Alive
- The Degrees hold an annual “Walk for Asha”, retracing her last known path.
- Asha's face has appeared on billboards, NASCAR cars, podcast covers, and FBI flyers.
- Media coverage has ranged from Montel Williams to Crime Junkie.
- Social media and true-crime forums have kept the conversation alive nationwide.
Her mother, Iquilla Degree, has said: “We’re not going to let them forget her.”
🧬 Recent Breakthroughs (2024–2025)
- DNA matches to the Dedmon family and Russell Underhill
- Text messages suggesting guilt, panic, and a possible accident cover-up
- Party confession: “I killed Asha Degree,” allegedly said by one Dedmon sister
- Searches revealed 29 vehicles, including a 1970s green car
- Reward increased to $75,000 in May 2025
Authorities say they are making “significant progress.” No arrests as of June 2025.
🙏 Why Asha’s Case Still Matters
Asha Degree’s story is about:
- The disparities in media coverage for Black and missing children
- The dedication of one family and community refusing to forget
- Two decades of law enforcement persistence
Justice may be delayed but it is not denied.
🔎 Key Information
- Where: Shelby, North Carolina
- When: February 14, 2000
- Age at Disappearance: 9
- Last Evidence Found: Bookbag in Burke County
- Current Reward: $75,000
- Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI or Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office: (704) 484-4788
đź’¬ Final Word
The Sassy Gazette stands with Asha Degree’s family and the Shelby community. We believe the public deserves answers, and Asha deserves justice.
“She didn’t vanish into thin air. Somebody knows something. And it’s time they come forward.”
We walk by faith, but we demand the truth.
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