New Developments Emerge in Asha Degree Disappearance Investigation After 25 Years
Authorities are pursuing fresh leads and potential suspects linked to the 2000 case.
CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — The long-standing mystery surrounding the 2000 disappearance of 9-year-old Asha Jaquilla Degree from Shelby, North Carolina, has taken significant new turns as investigators dig deep for answers, 25 years after she was last seen. Recent search warrants reveal possible admissions of guilt and troubling text messages from individuals closely associated with the case.
Asha Degree was last observed walking along Highway 18 late on the night of February 14, 2000. Reports indicated she was seen being pulled forcibly from the roadside by occupants of a vehicle matching the description of a 1970s green Lincoln Thunderbird. Despite intensive search efforts following her disappearance, including the use of tracking dogs and aerial searches, Asha remained missing for years.
But hope was reignited recently when search warrants filed revealed evidence collected on February 13, 2025, indicating the involvement of the Dedmon family. Court documents revealed DNA evidence linking Asha’s belongings, discovered near Morganton, to Annalee Dedmon Ramirez, who was 13 at the time of Asha’s disappearance, and Russell Bradley Underhill, who died under mysterious circumstances in 2004.
Authorities believe the Dedmon family, including Roy Lee Dedmon, Connie Elliot Dedmon, and their daughters, are significant persons of interest as investigators classified Asha’s disappearance as a likely homicide. Sheriff Alan Norman explicitly noted, “We believe she was the victim of a homicide with her body concealed.” During the early investigations, the Dedmon household was known for operating local assisted living facilities where Underhill had resided, possibly bridging connections between them and the unsolved case.
Among the newly disclosed search warrant affidavits were claims of chilling admissions made by members of the Dedmon family. A witness recounted overhearing Lizzie Dedmon Foster weep at social gatherings, reportedly confessing, “I killed Asha Degree.” This staggering claim prompted significant attention from investigators who are now analyzing the emotional responses and text communications among the Dedmon family.
Text messages obtained from the daughters reflect their alarm and attempts to coordinate as investigators closed in. On September 10, 2024, one daughter texted, “I’m just so worried,” and expressed concern for their father’s potential culpability, saying, “Dad is probably going to be a huge suspect.” These communications hinted at their collective anxiety surrounding the resurfacing of Asha’s case.
Through these messages, investigators were able to see the internal turmoil and fear gripping the family as they navigated the intensifying scrutiny. Texts sent around the same time revealed trepidation about police inquiries; one daughter stated, “This is going to get nothing but worse,” implying the gravity of their situation.
Authorities executed multiple property searches, including seizing vehicles and electronic devices from the Dedmon family, anticipating these could yield additional evidence. Notably, attention has turned to the green 1960s-era AMC Rambler associated with the Dedmons, which bears remarkable similarities to the vehicle described by witnesses on the night of Asha's disappearance. This dimension of the investigation mirrors the earlier efforts where investigators scoured through various leads, yet the relentless passage of time marked the case with heartbreak and unresolved questions.
DNA analysis highlighted matches to both Underhill and Ramirez, with investigators surmising “adult assistance” from the Dedmon parents would have been necessary. Presently, the family has denied all involvement with Asha’s case, and their attorney has requested the public refrain from speculation, striving to maintain the presumption of innocence.
Meanwhile, as investigators pursue evidence of felonies, including obstruction of justice, against the Dedmons, the prospect of termination of the investigation remains uncertain. Investigative passages indicate, “Probable cause exists for the crime of Felony Obstruction of Justice” based on preliminary findings. Further examination of the electronic devices seized on February 13 could reveal pertinent details linked to obfuscation efforts relative to Asha’s case, serving to hone the narrative of how deeply the family may be implicated.
For more than two decades, law enforcement, alongside Asha's family, has doggedly pursued justice and clarity about Asha's fate. Every year, family members host a prayer walk to draw attention to the case, emphasizing their hope for outcomes. On February 8, 2025, during one such event, Asha’s mother reflected on the new findings with cautious optimism, stating, “At least this year, we know a little bit more than we knew 24 years ago.”
These recent developments mark not only procedural progress but also could signify potential criminal accountability for those suspected of complicity. The community remains fervently invested, hopeful for closure, but aware of the challenging and delicate path still to be traversed as the investigation inches toward resolution.
Despite the advances, no arrests have yet been made, and authorities are thorough as they continue to sift through evidence for clarity on the individuals possibly associated with Asha Degree's tragic disappearance. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office maintains its commitment to seeking justice for Asha, resilient amid the challenges set before them.