Naomi Adrielle Diano by Naomi Adrielle Diano

The Disappearance of Asha Jaquilla Degree

230336_9 — 2025-05-09 03:42:21 UTC

BREAKING NEWS: 9 year old Asha Jaquilla Degree went missing on February 14 2000. Last seen walking alongside the North Carolina Highway 18, despite having heavy winds and rains on that night. Authorities are investigating her whereabouts and currently believe that this is a runaway case.

If you have any information about her, please contact the FBI Charlotte at (704) 672-6100, your local FBI office, 911, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

#FindAshaDegree #TrueCrime #MissingPerson

230336_9 — 2025-05-09 03:46:20 UTC

Witnesses say she was last seen alongside the North Carolina Highway 18 at 4am in the early morning of February 14 2000. When a passerby began to approach her, she ran into the woods. This billboard is the last known location of Asha Degree, before she ran into the woods, never to be seen again.

#FindAshaDegree #TrueCrime #MissingPerson

230336_9 — 2025-05-10 05:34:44 UTC

On the evening before her disappearance, there were heavy rains and thunders striking lightning down on her town. The lightning woke Asha up, which she then joined her family to watch tv, before going back to bed. Her father, Harold Degree, checked on the room her and her brother were sleeping in after midnight before heading to bed. This was the last time anyone from her family saw Asha.

On the morning of her disappearance at 6am, her mom Iquilla Degree went to wake Asha and her brother up. Her brother, O'Bryant was still asleep in his bed, but when she looked over to Asha's bed, she was gone. Her mom was in an immediate state of panic whilst her dad called 911.

#FindAshaDegree #TrueCrime #MissingPerson

230336_9 — 2025-05-10 05:51:55 UTC

A year and a half later, on August 3 2001, her bookbag was found in a construction site 26.9km from where she was last seen and 25km from her house. It was unearthed by Terry Fleming, a 44 year old Burke County contractor who was apart of a construction crew.

The bookbag was wrapped in a black trash bag. Inside the bookbag was Asha's name and family phone number, along with a Dr Seuss book and a "New Kids On The Block" shirt. However, the book and the T-shirt didn't belong to her. The book was from her school, but the T-shirt didn't belong to her, so it is a mystery on why that shirt is in there...

Authorities are now believing that Asha Degree was abducted, and foul play was involved.

#FindAshaDegree #NewLead #MissingPerson #TrueCrime

230336_9 — 2025-05-10 06:05:30 UTC

A day after Asha's disappearance, on February 15, candy wrappers were found in a shed at a nearby business along the highway. With the candy wrappers, there was also a pencil, a green marker and a yellow hair bow that Asha's mom, Iquilla Degree all confirmed to belong to Asha. In the shed, there was also a picture of another black girl around Asha's age who is still yet to be identified. This is our first lead!

However, on February 16, when Asha's mom checked Asha's closet, she realized that Asha's backpack and her favorite clothes weren't in her closet, which Asha's mother began to call all her friends and family if Asha went over to any of their houses.

"I honestly believe she walked out one of these doors on her own free will and after that somebody, once she walked down that road, somebody picked her up," Iquilla said.

#FindAshaDegree #NewLead #MissingPerson #TrueCrime

230336_9 — 2025-05-12 10:35:21 UTC

16 years has passed, and there is now a new lead on the case. The FBI put out a notice on a distinctive vehicle that tips have said they witnessed Asha getting into.

The car is described as possibly being an early 1970s Lincoln Mark IV or a Ford Thunderbird, dark green, with rust around the wheel wells. The FBI is still looking for information, offering a reward of up to $25,000. If you have any information, please contact FBI Charlotte at (704) 672-6100, your local FBI office, 911, or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.

#FindAshaDegree #NewLead #TrueCrime #MissingPerson

230336_9 — 2025-05-14 12:45:02 UTC

There was a major breakthrough on the case on late 2024-early 2025 according to court documents.

On September 2024, A 1964 AMC Rambler was seized from Roy Dedmon’s property, which looked similar to the car seen pulling Asha into. On September 10 2024, law enforcement began searching properties by the Dedmon family. September 18 2024, someone came forward and stated that he heard daughter Lizzie Dedmon confess at a house party that she "killed Asha Degree", with her sister Sarah Dedmon reacting strongly and telling Lizzie to "be quiet."

On September 27 2024, law enforcement attempted to approach Lizzie, however she didn't cooperate and refused to do a polygraph test.

On October 28 2024, investigators gained access to Lizzie's iCloud account and uncovered suspicious messages, mainly about the investigation, the "New Kids On the Block" shirt, and their fathers potential involvement.

On February 10-13 2025, Lizzie Foster was approached again by law enforcement and agreed to a polygraph test, saying "If my dad did it, he did it but I had nothing to do with it."

Additionally, Roy Dedmon's (the father's) phone was seized, but his iCloud wasn't backed up so the messages aren't known.

Authorities now believe this case is a homicide.

But what do you guys think? Is this a kidnapping, a runaway, or a homicide? Whatever you believe, lets all hope that we can find Asha Degree so her family can finally receive justice.

#FindAshaDegree #UnsolvedMystery #MissingPerson #TrueCrime #NewLead