A trucker saw her walking alone on a dark highway at 4 a.m. Twenty-four years later, investigators think they finally know who put her there.
Asha Degree, 9, disappeared from her family's home in Shelby, North Carolina, in the early hours of February 14, 2000. For over two decades her case remained a mystery with no real leads — until a series of developments beginning in 2024 turned it into an active homicide investigation with named persons of interest.
A Disappearance With No Explanation
Asha's father checked on her around 2:30 a.m. that night; by 6:30 a.m., when her mother came to wake her for school, she was gone. All the doors in the house were found locked, and Asha's own house key had been tucked inside her book bag, which was also missing.
Sightings on the Highway
Truck drivers reported seeing a girl matching Asha's description walking alone along Highway 18, roughly a mile from her home, sometime between 3:30 and 4:15 a.m. A witness also reported seeing her pulled into a dark green early-1970s-model car with rust around the wheel wells, believed to resemble a Lincoln Mark IV or Ford Thunderbird.
Belongings Found, Then Nothing for Years
Days after Asha vanished, some of her belongings — a pencil, a marker, a hair bow — were found near a tool shed along the same highway. In August 2001, a contractor discovered her book bag buried more than 26 miles from her home, double-wrapped in plastic garbage bags, along with an undershirt. For years afterward, the case produced no significant public breakthroughs, even as investigators continued periodic searches and the FBI kept the case active.
The Case Reclassified
In September 2024, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, working with the FBI and North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation, executed search warrants at properties connected to the Dedmon family — Roy and Connie Dedmon and their three adult daughters, AnnaLee Dedmon Ramirez, Lizzie Foster, and Sarah Caple. Investigators stated publicly for the first time that they believed Asha had been the victim of a homicide and that her body had been concealed. A green 1964 AMC Rambler was seized from the family's property; DNA testing on hair found in Asha's backpack reportedly matched a relative of the family, and a hair on her undershirt was linked specifically to AnnaLee Dedmon Ramirez, who was around 13 at the time of Asha's disappearance.
An Alleged Confession
According to search warrant documents, a man told investigators in 2024 that he'd witnessed Lizzie Foster, visibly intoxicated at a party in the mid-2000s, tearfully say she had killed Asha Degree, with her sister Sarah reportedly telling her to be quiet immediately afterward. In February 2025, Foster took a polygraph test and was found deceptive when asked whether she was concealing information. Investigators believe that because two of the daughters were minors (16 and 15) at the time of Asha's disappearance, adult involvement from their parents would likely have been necessary to carry out and conceal the crime. The Dedmon family has denied any involvement.
Where Things Stand Now
As of the most recent reporting in early 2026, no one has been arrested or charged, and Asha's remains have never been found. Investigators have continued searching additional properties connected to the family and associates. A combined reward of up to $100,000 remains available for information leading to a resolution. Asha's mother, Iquilla Degree, has continued to say publicly that she believes her daughter may still be alive, while investigators have said they believe otherwise based on the evidence gathered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Asha Degree's case been solved?
No. Despite DNA evidence and a witness account pointing to specific individuals, no one has been arrested or charged, and her body has never been found.
Who are the persons of interest in the case?
The Dedmon family — Roy and Connie Dedmon and their three daughters — have been named in search warrants based on DNA and witness evidence, though they have not been charged and have denied involvement.
Is there still a reward for information?
Yes, a combined reward of up to $100,000 is available for information leading to a resolution of the case.