Shelby, NC – A long-running investigation into the disappearance of nine-year-old Asha Degree in 2000 has taken a potential turn following recent speculations surrounding Roy Lee Dedmon’s family. The case, which has baffled authorities for over two decades, may now see new light due to emerging rumors of a deathbed confession linked to the Dedmon family.
On Wednesday afternoon, an older model green vehicle was towed from a property at the intersection of Cherryville Road and Rollingwood Drive. The vehicle bears resemblance to one described in a 2016 tip regarding the disappearance of Asha Degree, who went missing on Valentine’s Day in 2000. This new development has revived speculation about her case.
A source reportedly connected to the Dedmon family has claimed that Roy Lee Dedmon, on his deathbed in Georgia, confessed to accidentally hitting Asha Degree while drunk on the highway. According to this source, Dedmon then allegedly buried Asha’s body on his property. These accusations have been circulating for years, with rumors intensifying after the death of Nick Elliot, a preacher in Shelby and brother to Roy Lee Dedmon’s wife, Connie, in April 2024.
Further complicating the situation, Connie Dedmon has either canceled or hidden her social media accounts, fueling more questions and suspicions.
Asha Degree was last seen by her family in the early hours of February 14, 2000. Her family reported her missing later that morning after discovering she was not in her bed. Witnesses claim they saw Asha walking along NC Highway 18, with one even saying she entered the nearby woods. Despite an extensive search, her whereabouts remain unknown.
In 2001, Asha’s bookbag was found concealed at a construction site 30 miles from where she was last seen. Some items in the bag did not belong to her, adding to the mystery.
Authorities have continued their search for Asha over the past two decades, with a $45,000 reward currently being offered for information that could lead to her discovery. The area where investigators gathered this week is close to the last known sighting of Asha, raising hopes that new clues may be uncovered.
With these new leads, there is renewed hope that the truth about Asha Degree’s disappearance may finally emerge, potentially bringing closure to a case that has haunted the Shelby community for years.