Nationwide — Asha Degree, an African American girl from Cleveland County, North Carolina, has been missing for more than 26 years after she disappeared at age 10 on Valentine’s Day in the year 2000. Her family continues to search for answers and has now increased the reward to $100,000 for information.
She went missing from her home on the night of February 14, 2000, during a rainstorm. Asha reportedly left without anyone seeing where she went, and investigators have never confirmed what caused her to leave.
Her parents, Iquilla and Harold Degree, say the uncertainty has never gone away. Iquilla says the family still holds on to hope, while Harold says they understand more about the case now than they did years ago, but still have no closure.
“Twenty-six years is a long time of not knowing,” Iquilla told WCNC. “We still haven’t gave up hope that she’s alive. But if they bring me proof that she’s not alive, then we’ll accept it.”
Over the years, investigators have continued to follow new leads. Authorities reportedly searched a property in Lincoln County that once belonged to Roy Dedmon in connection with the case. A witness also told detectives about an alleged admission involving the case, but no arrests or charges have been made.
Family members say they still have no clear reason why she left home that night. The only known detail at the time was that she had been upset after a basketball game, and nothing explained where she may have gone afterward.
A billboard near her hometown still displays the $100,000 reward for information. For the Degree family, it stands as a public appeal for answers and a reminder that someone may still know what happened.
“Somebody knows something,” Iquilla said. “So we have to beg and plead for somebody to just have some compassion and just come, let it go, I know it’s eating you alive, let it go, guilt is a terrible thing.”
Authorities continue to ask anyone with information to come forward as the search for Asha Degree remains active.