He Killed His Wife & Her Entire Family. Now, A Judge Sentenced Him to Death.

Summary

Crime House 24/7 – Episode Summary

Episode: He Killed His Wife & Her Entire Family. Now, A Judge Sentenced Him to Death.
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: April 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Crime House 24/7, hosted by Vanessa Richardson, covers several major crime stories making national and international headlines. The lead segment explores the sentencing of Shelby Neely for the murders of his wife, Jamie Ivancic, and her entire family—a case marked by chilling deception and brutality. Vanessa also covers breaking stories: a deadly arson in Queens, the arrest in a long-unsolved Illinois child homicide, and the London trial of a woman accused of murdering her own sister. The episode closes with a “Final Hours” feature, previewing the unsolved disappearance of Asha Degree.

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Main Story: The Shelby Neely Family Murders & Sentencing

Background and Crimes

• Timeline:

  • 2018: Jamie Ivancic, age 21, is murdered by her husband Shelby Neely in Port Richey, FL.
  • For nearly a year, Neely impersonates Jamie, texting her family updates to conceal her death.
  • Late 2018: Suspicious of the deception, Neely murders Jamie's family in their home: Richard Ivancic (71, father), Laura Ivancic (59, mother), and Nicholas Ivancic (25, brother), bludgeoning them and killing their dogs.
  • He then flees to Ohio in a stolen vehicle.

• Body Discovery: Authorities conduct a welfare check on New Year’s Day, finding the family’s bodies wrapped in rugs. Jamie’s body is found several days later, buried behind the Port Richey home.

• Court Proceedings:

  • Neely pleaded guilty to:
    • Manslaughter with a weapon for Jamie.
    • First-degree murder and aggravated cruelty for the Ivancic family.
  • Initially sentenced to 30 years for Jamie’s killing.
  • Death penalty phase for the in-law murders concluded in April 2026.

Motive and Method

• Domestic Abuse History:

  • “Court records show the couple had a documented history of domestic abuse. In 2016, Neely spent 30 days in jail for choking, shoving, and biting Jamie while she was pregnant. It wasn’t his first offense either.” (02:36)
  • “Years earlier, Neely had been jailed for grabbing and repeatedly hitting a previous wife in the face during an argument over marijuana.” (03:05)

• Cover-up:

  • “He strangled her. He buried her body at a home in Port Richie, Florida. And then for the better part of a year, he pretended she was still alive. He sent text messages to her family, keeping up the charade while Jamie’s body decomposed in the ground.” (03:19)

• Subsequent Murders:

  • “As the months passed and Jamie's family grew more concerned that they hadn’t heard from her directly, investigators believe Neely began to see them as a threat to the lie he was living. And so sometime around the end of 2018…he killed three of them.” (03:43)
  • “He bludgeoned them to death. He also killed the family’s three dogs, Bailey, Bloomer and Buddy, three Bichon Frise mixes.” (03:58)

Investigation and Trial

• Arrest and Prosecution:

  • Neely was arrested in Ohio after being found with Laura Ivancic's stolen car in February 2019.
  • “Prosecutors argued the killings were premeditated and coldblooded, even highlighting a jailhouse phone call in which Neely was recorded laughing with his mother about what he'd done.” (05:13)

• Defense:

  • “Neely’s attorneys presented testimony from doctors who diagnosed him with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries… The defense characterized Jamie as the aggressor in their relationship.” (05:25)
  • Neely claimed self-defense in Jamie’s killing, stating she attacked him with a knife, though he admitted to using a hammer to “make sure she was dead.” (05:37)

• Sentencing:

  • In July 2025, a jury recommended the death penalty after just two hours of deliberation.
  • A December 2025 Spencer hearing gave the defense a final appeal.
  • “April 10th was the result of that process, and Judge Joseph Bolone followed the jury’s recommendation. Shelby Neely will die for what he did.” (06:10)

Aftermath

• Victims’ Surviving Family:
  • Jamie and Neely’s twin daughters, who were home during the family murders but not harmed, are now in the care of relatives.
  • “They lost their mother, they lost their grandparents, they lost their uncle, and they recently learned what the rest of their father’s life will look like.” (06:24)

Notable Quote

“He strangled her. He buried her body at a home in Port Richie, Florida. And then for the better part of a year, he pretended she was still alive.”
— Vanessa Richardson (03:19)

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Other Major Crime Stories

[10:48] Queens Apartment Arson — Four Dead

• Incident: On March 16, 2026, Roman Amatitla set fire to an apartment building in Queens, NY, then stood outside drinking stolen beer as residents jumped from windows.
• Victims:
  • Four dead (including a 3-year-old girl, Sihan Yang).
  • Multiple injured, including firefighters.
• Criminal Charges:
  • Eight counts of second-degree murder, arson, and petite larceny.
  • No prior criminal record.
• Prosecutor's Statement:
  • “He indicated that he watched as people… jumped from various windows, some of them living, one of them dying, all while sipping his beer.” (11:45 — ADA Gabriel Ra)
• Motive:
  • Amatitla told police he was furious after being fired from his job, needed to ‘get his rage out,’ and picked the building randomly.
  • “He acknowledged he knew the building was occupied and that people would be harmed. He said he did it anyway.” (14:37 — DA Melinda Katz)

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[15:25] Illinois Cold Case Arrest: Robert B. ("Bonsai")

• Arrest Announced: April 8; first arrest in the 2016 disappearance and murder of 13-year-old Robert B., who vanished in Pekin, IL.
• Suspect: Keith Brackett, now 48, charged with murder and concealment of a homicide.
• Investigation Details:
  • Robert often visited Brackett’s home, sometimes staying overnight.
  • Contradictory statements and incriminating internet searches (“how long DNA remains on rope”; “what to do if you’re a suspect in a murder investigation”).
  • Remains found in July 2017 on property managed by Brackett.
• Law Enforcement Statement:
  • “They showed great tenacity through the last decade to make sure that no stone was unturned.”
    — Pekin Police Chief Seth Ranney (16:10)

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[16:58] London Sister Murder Trial

• Accused: Nancy Pen (Pexton), age 70.
• Victim: Jennifer Abbott (aka Sarah Steinberg), film director.
• Allegations:
  • Stabbed her sister, left her corgi dog locked in the bathroom, and stole her Rolex watch.
  • Sent menacing message months earlier:

    “You know I was planning to kill you, but it was just a thought. I would never hurt you.” (18:13)

  • Abbott had considered a restraining order, confided in her nephew she feared Pexton was “capable of anything.”
• Current Status: Pexton pleads not guilty; trial ongoing at the Old Bailey.

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[19:22] Final Hours Feature: Disappearance of Asha Degree

Case Summary

• Who: 9-year-old Asha Degree, Shelby, North Carolina’s “sweetheart.”
• When: Disappeared in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, 2000.
• Details:
  • Last seen leaving her family’s home during a storm, walked along NC Highway 18.
  • Spotted by truckers, but vanished into the dark.
  • Months later, her backpack found buried miles from home.
• Family Profile:
  • Loving, tight-knit family. Asha described as “empathetic,” “independent,” and “a total daddy’s girl.”
    • “She’s the kind of kid who never wants her classmates to feel bad or left out. She’ll play with anybody.” (20:44 — Sarah Turney)
• Open Questions:
  • Why did such a cautious and storm-fearing child leave home alone at night? Was she fleeing, meeting someone, or coerced?
• Discussion Insight:
  • “If there’s a child leaving home in a storm, despite their fears, in my opinion, there’s probably a pretty strong reason why she did it.” (28:51 — Courtney Nicole)
  • No evidence she was groomed online or planning to run away.
• Status:
  • Case remains unsolved after more than two decades.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Neely’s Deception:

  “For nearly a year, Jamie Ivancic’s family got texts from her phone, photos of her kids, updates on her life. But she had been dead the entire time.”
  — Vanessa Richardson (00:52)

• On Prosecutorial Argument in Neely’s Trial:

  “Prosecutors argued the killings were premeditated and coldblooded, even highlighting a jailhouse phone call in which Neely was recorded laughing with his mother about what he had done.”
  — Vanessa Richardson (05:13)

• On Asha Degree’s Personality:

  “She’s warm and polite, though a bit shy at times.”
  — Sarah Turney (20:44) “Asha is also really empathetic. She’s the kind of kid who never wants her classmates to feel bad or left out.”
  — Sarah Turney (20:46)

• On the Aftermath for the Ivancic Twins:

  “They lost their mother, they lost their grandparents, they lost their uncle, and they recently learned what the rest of their father’s life will look like.”
  — Vanessa Richardson (06:24)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:52] – Neely family murders: introduction and overview
• [02:13–06:26] – Detailed timeline, criminal history, modus operandi, trial, and sentencing
• [10:48–14:47] – Queens apartment fire: incident, investigation, legal implications
• [15:25–16:58] – Illinois cold case arrest of Keith Brackett
• [16:58–18:29] – London sister murder trial
• [19:22–31:51] – “Final Hours” special: Asha Degree’s disappearance, family profile, the timeline of her last days, open theories

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Summary

Vanessa Richardson delivers a comprehensive exploration of high-profile true crime stories, offering compelling narrative detail and up-to-date legal developments. The episode’s focus on the Shelby Neely sentencing provides both an emotional and factual overview of one of Florida’s most cold-blooded family murders, while additional segments keep listeners informed on major cases unfolding nationwide and abroad. The “Final Hours” feature offers a poignant, humanizing view into the ongoing mystery of Asha Degree’s disappearance, framing the enduring sense of loss and unanswered questions that persist in such cases.

Transcript

[A]

Hi listeners, it's Vanessa Richardson. Real quick, before today's episode, I want to tell you about another show from Crime House that I know you'll love. America's Most Infamous Crimes. Hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, Katie takes on one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history. Serial killers who terrorized cities, unsolved mysteries that keep detectives up at night, and investigations that change the way we think about justice. Listen to and follow America's Most Infamous crimes Tuesday through Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[B]

This is Crime House.

[A]

Good morning everyone. We have multiple breaking true crime cases this morning that you need to know about. And we're starting with the biggest one. For nearly a year, Jamie Ivancic's family got texts from her phone, photos of her kids, updates on her life. But she had been dead the entire time. And now the man who killed her and then killed them is sentenced to death. This is crime house 24. 7, your non stop source for the biggest crime cases developing right now. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Vanessa Richardson and we have quite a lineup for you today. Here's what you need to know.

[C]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.

[A]

On April 10, a Florida judge sentenced 32 year old Shelby Neely to death, closing the final chapter of one of the most disturbing family murder cases in recent memory. To understand what brought everyone to that courtroom, we have to go back to 2018, Neely was married to 21 year old Jamie Ivancic. They had two young children together, twin daughters, and by all accounts, the relationship was volatile and troubled. Court records show the couple had a documented history of domestic abuse. In 2016, Neely spent 30 days in jail for choking, shoving and biting Jamie while she was pregnant. It wasn't his first offense either. Years earlier, Neely had been jailed for grabbing and repeatedly hitting a previous wife in the face during an argument over marijuana. In January 2018, Neely killed Jamie. He strangled her. He buried her body at a home in Port Richie, Florida. And then for the better part of a year, he pretended she was still alive. He sent text messages to her family, keeping up the charade while Jam's body decomposed in the ground. As the months passed and Jam's family grew more concerned that they hadn't heard from her directly, investigators believe Neely began to see them as a threat to the lie he was living. And so sometime around the end of 2018, Neely drove to the Ivancic family home at a mobile home park called the Meadows in Tarpon Springs and he killed three of them. 71 year old Richard Ivancic, Jamie's father 59 year old Laura Ivancic, her mother mother and 25 year old Nicholas Ivancic, her brother. He bludgeoned them to death. He also killed the family's three dogs, Bailey, Bloomer and Buddy, three Bichon Frise mixes. Jamie and Neely's twin daughters were home at the time and they were not physically harmed. A neighbor later recalled seeing Neely digging a trench outside the Ivancic home in mid December and told a friend at the time that it looked like he was digging a grave. After the murders, Neely took Laura Ivancic's car and drove to Ohio, where he was later arrested in February 2019 after police caught him with the stolen vehicle. An eventual welfare check at the Tarpon Springs home on New Year's Day revealed the three bodies Richard and Laura found wrapped in area rugs, Nicholas in a painter's drop cloth. Less than a week later, Jamie's body was found buried near the Port Richie home. She'd been dead for nearly a year. Neely pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a weapon for Jamie's death and pleaded guilty to first degree murder and aggravated cruelty for the deaths of Richard, Laura and Nicholas. He was already serving a 30 year sentence for Jamie's killing when the penalty phase for the in law murders went to a jury in July 2025. The jury deliberated for about two hours before recommending death on all three murder counts. Prosecutors argued the killings were premeditated and coldblooded, even highlighting a J. House phone call in which Neely was recorded laughing with his mother about what he had done. In response, the defense asked for mercy. Neely's attorneys presented testimony from doctors who diagnosed him with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries stemming from past altercations, including fights with Jamie, whom the defense characterized as the aggressor in their relationship. In his own police confession, Neely claimed Jamie had attacked him with a knife and lunged at their daughter before he strangled her, though he also admitted grabbing a hammer afterwards to, in his words, make sure she was dead. His mother and stepfather testified about a traumatic childhood and the suicide of his biological father when neely was just 17. In December 2025, a Spencer hearing was held. That's a proceeding required by Florida law that allows the defense to make a final appeal to the judge before sentencing. April 10th was the result of that process, and Judge Joseph Bolone followed the jury's recommendation. Shelby Neely will die for what he did. Neely and Jamie's twin daughters are now in the care of other family members. They lost their mother, they lost their grandparents, they lost their uncle, and they recently learned what the rest of their father's life will look like. From Florida, we head north to New York City where a man was arraigned this week on murder and arson charges after allegedly setting a deadly fire at a Queen's apartment building and then standing outside to watch it burn. On April 9, a man was arraigned on murder and arson charges after allegedly setting fire to a Queen's apartment building last month and then standing outside and watching it burn while sipping a stolen beer. Four people died in that fire, including a three year old girl and several others were injured. The suspect is expected to be back in court Monday, April 13. Police on March 16 in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, a fire broke out on the ground floor of a three story building on Avery Avenue, right at the base of the only staircase that residents living above had to get out. The building had commercial businesses on the ground floor and residential apartments above. According to prosecutors, 38 year old Roman Amatitla of Maspeth, Queens, entered the building multiple times that day before the fire, starting at 11:43am he then crossed the street to a nearby BP gas station where he purchased one beer, stole another and took a book of matches. He returned to the building, followed a resident inside, lit a piece of paper on fire and placed the flaming paper on top of a pile of garbage near the ground floor stairwell, the only exit for residents living on the second and third floors. He then went outside and watched. According to Queen's Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Ra, who described the scene at the arraignment Thursday, Amatitla quote indicated that he watched as people, people jumped from various windows, some of them living, one of them dying, all while sipping his beer. The FDNY dispatched 74 units 231 firefighters and EMS personnel as flames spread through at least five apartments on the second and third floors. Three residents were found unconscious inside the building and were pronounced dead from smoke inhalation at the scene. 3 year old Sihan Yang, 49 year old Chungri Cui and 61 year old Shin Che Ming. 3 year old Si Han Yang was found by firefighters in a third floor bed where she had been sleeping, according to prosecutors. Her mother returned to the scene as the building burned and Amatitla, they say, was still there when she did. A fourth victim, 64 year old Hong Zhao, jumped from a window to escape and suffered multiple broken bones and brain trauma. He was pronounced dead hours later at a nearby hospital. Hospital Four other occupants were injured jumping from the building with one person still being hospitalized and another was rescued from a second story window by firefighters. Two firefighters attempting to make rescues fell into the basement when the staircase they were climbing collapsed and both had to be transported to Jacoby Hospital for smoke inhalation and thermal burns, according to a criminal complaint. When investigators arrested Amatitla at his home on April 8, he admitted to setting the fire. He told detectives he'd recently recently gotten into a fight at work and was fired. He said he needed to get his rage out and according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, he chose the building at random. He acknowledged he knew the building was occupied and that people would be harmed. He said he did it anyway. Katz called it an act of mass murder and one of the greatest crimes that this borough has seen in a very long time. Amatitla has been charged with eight counts of second degree murder and first degree arson, among other charges including petite larceny for the stolen beer. He has no prior criminal record. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He was held without bail at his arraignment on Thursday. From Flushing, we move now to Pekin, Illinois where an arrest has been made in a nearly decade long cold case, uncovering details of what allegedly happened to a 13 year old boy named Robert B. For a lot of people, the hardest part about weight loss isn't getting started, it's finding something that works and lasts. That's why weight loss by hers is designed to support you in a more effective way with access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications including the Wegovy Pill and the Wegovy Pen. 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As to get started and learn more, including important safety information, WeGovy clinical study information and restrictions, visit forhers.com after nearly a decade, someone is finally in custody for the murder of 13 year old Robert B. On Wednesday, April 8, Pekin Police Chief Seth Ranney took to a podium at Pekin City hall to make the announcement. 48 year old Keith Brackett was taken into custody that morning and charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicide in the death of 13 year old Robert B. Jr. A boy who went missing in November 2016 and whose skeletal remains were found in July 2017 in a wooded area in Tazewell County, Illinois. Ranney called it the most manpower intensive case in the history of his department. He said that they, quote, showed great tenacity through the last decade to make sure that no stone was unturned, end quote. Here's what the probable cause affidavit lays out. Robert, be known to his friends as Bonsai, was reported missing by his mother Lisa on November 18, 2016. She said he'd last been seen the day before. On November 17, 2016, Robert had run away from a truancy officer and ended up at Brackett's house. Investigators learned that Robert and Brackett were friends despite their significant age difference, and that Robert would sometimes skip school to spend time at Brackett's home, occasionally staying overnight. But the story shifted when detectives interviewed Brackett, who during last week's appearance requested the court address her as a woman. She initially said she had last seen Robert on November 15th or 16th and had left town shortly after. But cell phone records allegedly placed Brackett still in Pekin on the afternoon of the 18th, contradicting his account. In July 2017, a man mowing a lawn discovered Skelet remains in a secluded wooded area on Illinois Route 29 in Tazwell County. The property was owned by Brackett's aunt and had been maintained by Brackett since 2016. Found near the remains two different types of rope, a wad of duct tape and electrical tape with what appeared to be human hair on it. When investigators searched a nearby home where Brackett was living, they found rope outside that appeared similar in material and color to what was found at the scene. An autopsy determined Robert's cause of death. Death was homicidal violence, likely caused by asphyxiation. The affidavit also noted a series of Internet searches allegedly made by Brackett, including how long DNA remains on rope and what to do if you're a suspect in a murder investigation. Brackett made her first court appearance on Thursday via video conference and her arraignment is scheduled for April 23. Tazewell County State's Attorney Kevin Johnson confirmed that Brackett had been the primary suspect for some time and that the department had, quote, reached the end of the investigation, end quote. Nearly a decade later, someone is finally facing charges for Robert B's death. And as that case proceeds to court, we take you now to London where a woman is on trial, accused of stabbing her own sister and walking out the door with her Rolex. On April 10, a London jury heard that Nancy Pen, a 70 year old woman accused of fatally stabbing her older sister inside her Camden flat and walking out with her diamond encrusted Rolex watch, had sent her sister a chilling message months before her death, saying, quote, you know I was planning to kill you, but it was just a thought. I would never hurt you, end quote. P's sister, 69 year old Jennifer Abbott, also known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, was a film director. Prosecutors say Pexton visited Abbott's flat in Mornington Place, Camden in north London on June 10 of 2025. The two had spoken by phone at 11:36 in the morning. Pexton arrived by bus at 12:45pm an hour later, after leaving her sister's flat, Pexton called her doctor and told them she had taken an overdose. She was taken to a hospital by ambulance where she remained until her arrest on June 18, eight days after Abbott's death and five days after her body was discovered. The one who found Abbott was a neighbor who forced open her door after becoming alarmed that he could not hear her corgi Prince barking, which was unusual for him. He discovered Abbott's partially naked and decomposing body on the living room floor. She had a large gaping slash type wound across her neck and gaffer tape over her mouth. The corgi had been locked in the bathroom and was freed by firefighters. A postmortem examination found multiple stab and slash wounds and a single defensive wound to her right hand. Abbott's diamond encrusted gold Rolex watch, which the court heard she was greatly attached to and never removed, was missing from her wrist. It was later found in Pexton's bag when police searched her. The court also heard that Abbott had shared Pexton's threatening message with her nephew in November 2024, asking whether she should apply for a restraining order. She told him at the time that she believed Pexton was, quote, capable of anything, end quote, and feared for her own safety. Pexton, who is of no fixed address and was effectively homeless at the time, is pleading not guilty. But for the jury at the Old Bailey, the question is a stark one. Whether a sister's love curdled into something far darker and ultimately fatal.

[D]

Hi, I'm Ashley Flowers, and if you're like me and grew up watching America's Most Wanted and reading Nancy Drew, then hi, you're a crime junkie. And I bet that passion for solving mysteries never went away. Which is why we've assembled a team of reporters to dig deep into all the cases we still obsess over. Each Monday, my best friend Britt and I will bring you a case that you won't be able to stop thinking and talking about. So join us by listening to Crime Junkie wherever you listen to podcasts.

[A]

Okay, before I let you go, you know we can't end without giving you a little something extra. Over on the Final Hours. Today, Sarah and Courtney are diving into the case of ASHA degree. 9 year old ASHA Degree left her North Carolina home in the early morning hours of Valentine's Day 2000 and began walking alone along Highway 18. Multiple drivers reported seeing her before she disappeared into the darkness. Months later, her backpack was discovered buried miles away, containing items that raised more questions than answers. Why would a child leave home in the middle of the night? And more than two decades later, her case remains unsolved. Trust me when I say you're going to want to hear this one. We grabbed a clip from today's episode. Take a listen. And if you like the episode, don't forget to follow the final hours.

[E]

Asha Degree will always be known as Shelby, North Carolina Sweetheart. Not only did her family love her deeply, so did everyone in her small town. Ever since she disappeared on Valentine's Day in 2000, no one has given up on finding her over the past quarter century, Asha's case has inched forward slowly but surely. Now, investigators are closer than ever to finding an answer about what actually happened. But before we discuss the evidence, let's talk about the sweetheart herself.

[B]

It's the year 2000. Nine year old Asha lives with her parents, 30 year olds Harold and Aquila Degree and her older brother, 10 year old O'. Bryant. They stay in a rented two bedroom duplex on Oak Crest Drive on the northern outskirts of Shawnee Shelby. The small town 45 miles west of Charlotte is known as the City of Pleasant Living. The degrees keep a loving household. Asha shares a room with her brother, which is fine because they're best friends. He likes to walk her to class and sometimes even holds her hand on the way there. But at home, Asha's a total daddy's girl. She really bonded with Harold when she was 6 months old. that point, he'd gotten laid off from work and took over her late night feedings. Now Harold works as a dock loader at PPG Industries in Shelby. Aquilla builds pianos at Kauai America nearby in Lincolnton. Asha grew up quiet like her dad, but they love to play together loudly. They wrestle a lot. Asha also loves jumping on her trampoline and playing tag with her brother and cousins who live nearby. She has over a dozen in the area. But she's also very independent. She's happy to play with her Barbies alone in her room room. Asha's also really empathetic. She's the kind of kid who never wants her classmates to feel bad or left out. She'll play with anybody. She's warm and polite, though a bit shy at times.

[E]

Yeah, and you can actually see this in her singing. When her dad plays his Kirk Franklin tape of the gospel song Revolution in the Car, Asha always belts out the lyrics. But she's too shy to take a solo in the children's choir at her church.

[B]

And because of that, it surprises Asha's parents when she asks to play basketball in fourth grade. In the fall of 1999, she joins the Fallston Elementary School Bulldogs as a point guard. She loves the team element and feeling like she's not alone out there. She's a great student too. In class, she's regularly awarded student of the week and she often wins Treasure Chest, which is when a kid does something helpful in their class and gets to pick a prize. Asha especially loves to read and write. She wants to be an author and illustrator when she grows up. Up. She even includes her brother as a character in Some of her stories.

[E]

O' Bryant was actually the one who helped her learn how to read. He started Asha off with the Clifford the Big Red Dog books, but now that she's in fourth grade, she enjoys reading a series called Horrible Harry about the adventures of an imaginative second grader. Her most recent reading assignment was the Whipping Boy, which told a story about two kids who ran away and hid in sewer pipes. The class just finished reading the book, so it's fresh in their minds.

[B]

Asha is also big into movies. She's got a soft heart, so all the sad parts make her cry. But because she has a big imagination, she doesn't like anything scary. They give her nightmares. After they watched Mars Attacks, Asha told o' Brien she dreamed she was an alien attacking Earth. She told him the graveyard scene in Michael Jackson's music video thriller gave her nightmares. All to say, Asha is someone who isn't afraid to to express her fears, especially for a nine year old. Her family also knows she's terrified of thunderstorms and dogs because she doesn't like things jumping on her. Yet she's still sharp witted and cautious. When her aunt comes to the door, she won't even answer it without her mom's permission.

[E]

Did you have any like childhood fear, Sarah?

[B]

Yeah, I was really afraid of storms. We don't have a lot of weather in Arizona, but we do have a pretty vicious monsoon season sometimes. So as a kid I was absolutely terrified.

[E]

Yeah, I'm kind of right there with you. I grew up in Washington and we, I mean we obviously get like rain but we don't get any like major natural disasters. But I grew up with a horrible fear of tornadoes, which I actually am still really deathly afraid of them today. And now I live in Utah, which we don't even get anything like that here. But yeah, definitely storms. I'm kind of right there with Asia.

[B]

Yeah, I mean I feel like you have to take everything into consideration. Right. But I also think there's a difference between a child saying that they're afraid and being in their house with their parents. Parents and then child actually like being out in a storm and what they might do. I love kids. I love the children in my life. Right. But sometimes they're a little performative when it comes to being afraid. And when they get in the actual situation when it's something harmless like a little bit of rain. Right. You know, they might act differently.

[E]

Yeah, I, I have three kids myself. You know, they're all six and under and so I definitely know what you mean about being performative, I don't know, like, their media consumption. Like, with Asia. She loves to, like, read and like, watch movies and stuff. I do feel like that could maybe play a factor into, like, what they're interested in, what they're scared of or what they may or may not do.

[B]

Right. Like, and sparking her imagination and creativity feels like something completely different than, like, changing behavior. I loved the Boxcar Children book series when I was a kid. I would have loved to go live in a train. Right? But if you would have put me in a boxcar, I'm sure I would have, you know, said, no, thank you. Well, let's talk about the days leading up to Asha's disappearance. On Saturday, February 12, 2000, Asha has a basketball game with the Fallston Elementary Bulldog. She's a star player, but that day she fouls out and doesn't get to finish the game. The Bulldogs lose. Asha is definitely disappointed afterward, but she's got something to cheer her up. That night, she goes to a slumber party at her cousin's house. 15 year old Katina. She and a few other cousins have a blast. Staying up late pretending to be Soul Train contestants and watching Showtime at the Apollo. Asia's dancing and laughing. She seems happy. The next morning, February 13, is a Sunday, so Asha goes to church with her family. She brings a black purse with Tweety Bird on it. It's something she picked out when she won Treasure Chest at school the week before. She's proud of that. That morning, Asha sees the Deacon Howard camp. She tugs on his pant leg and asks him the same question she does every Mr. Camp, how'd I play yesterday? He tells her that she played great. Even better than her brother. That evening at 6.30pm, Asha goes to bed early. She's tired from the sleepover the night before, but high winds and lightning storms rattle the house that evening, which terrifies her. Around 8.30pm, Asha crawls out from under the covers and slips into the living room. She sits between her parents on the couch and watches TV with them. Around 9pm, the power goes out in the house, so Asha goes back to bed.

[E]

I feel like it's common knowledge that Eisha was like a high achiever, so I definitely could see her beating herself up, fouling out at this basketball game. But I don't know. I feel like that at that slumber party. I mean, it's obviously hard to say since I wasn't there, but I feel like she did have a genuinely good time at this slumber party.

[B]

Yeah. And I feel like, you know, in that moment when your team loses the game, it does feel like the end of the world. But kids are. And it feels like just a few hours later she was having a fun time. So it's hard to say. You know, I think that both can be true. Right, that she had big feelings about the game, but that she was able to get over it.

[E]

Yeah, I see that all the time in my own kids. You know, they can be really upset one second and then literally five minutes later, it's like they've completely forgotten about it.

[B]

Yeah, it's the end of the world one minute and then everything's fine the next. But it's hard, you know, while I don't think that this is going to be enough to make a child run away from home, we have no idea what was going on in Aisha's house bed. It's 2:30am on Monday, February 14, 2000, the first Valentine's Day of the new century. It also happens to be Aquilla and Harold Degree's wedding anniversary. A storm is still raging outside. On Harold's way to bed, he pokes his head into the kids room to check on them. Asha and o' Brien are in their bed sleeping. Harold goes to his room, which is less than 5ft away. About 30 minutes later, Asha wakes up. She gets dressed, grabs her backpack and leaves the house, locking the door behind her. She's quiet as a mouse. No one even notices she left.

[E]

No one knows what causes her to take this unexpected journey either if she left spontaneously or if her backpack was already packed and ready to go. But we do know that Asha turns onto the two lane highway around the corner from her family's duplex and she starts trekking south down the two lane NC18 highway, the same direction as her bus route. Because at 3.30am, a father and son trucking team sees Asha walking by the side of the road. She's wearing a white shirt, white jeans and white tennis shoes. Half an hour later, at 4am, another truck driver named Jeff catches sight of Asha. Jeff is concerned so he turns his 10 wheeler around on the two lane winding road to check on her. Asha is a mile away from her home in the middle of the night.

[F]

Night.

[E]

Jeff never sees her look up while she's walking. Eventually she veers away from the highway into the darkness. I think this is like what's really, really hard for me because there should be no reason that like a little girl like this would be leaving alone in the middle of the night in the complete darkness and in the middle of this massive storm, which we already know she is terrified of.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, you read my mind. If there's a child leaving home in a storm, despite their fears, in my opinion there's probably a pretty strong reason why she did it. It, it's not some like I just all of a sudden going to pack my bag and leave the house for a random reason. It feels again like something compelled her to leave.

[E]

I mean, I remember personally being 9 years old, if I did not have like a good reason, like I guess like an emergency type reason, like I would not have left the house like that, especially in a storm. Then again, she was walking kind of in the same direction as her school and church, but it was also just like the biggest street nearby. So we don't know like why she left or like where exactly she was planning to go.

[B]

Even with the most predictable kids, sometimes they surprise you. And it's the days before, really. I mean, you know, the Internet existed obviously, right? But it doesn't seem like it would be a child predator who groomed her online. Nowhere in covering this case have I seen that right? About her having any type of online presence especially. So if someone was leading her out of that house, you have to think of like, like when did they meet, how long have they known each other? When did they have this conversation? Was it planned even? I mean, there's so many questions and I think that's part of why so many people gravitate towards this case. At 6am on Monday, February 14, 2000, Aquilla wakes up before her alarm and goes to the bathroom. The kid's room is two feet away and she notices the door is cracked when it's usually closed. But she doesn't think anything of it. At 6:30am, her alarm rings to wake the kids up for school. Aquilla heads back to the bathroom and starts their bath. The kids hadn't gotten one the night before because of the power outage. Then she goes to the kids room to wake them up. O' Brien is under the covers. He jumps up as soon as his mom calls his name. Same as usual. But Asha isn't in her bed. Asha usually makes her bed right after she gets up up, but the covers are still undone.

[E]

One thing I learned was that Asha sometimes woke up at night and would lie on the floor next to o' Brien's bed. So Aquilla checks there first, no Asha. When she asks o' Bryant where his sister is, he says he doesn't know. She checks the living room, the kitchen and every closet in the house. Still no Asha. Aquilla goes into her room, gets dressed, and tells Harold that Asha's not inside. She even checks their clothes, cars. That's when Harold suggests that maybe Asha went to his mother's house right across the street. They also call his sister who lives down the block. Neither of them has seen or heard from Asha that morning, so Aquilla calls her mom and tells her that Asha isn't home. Her mom says to hang up and call the police right away. Aquilla tosses the phone to Harold to call 911 and heads outside. Then she walks up and down the street screaming Asha's name. She's messed up with deafening silence.

[A]

That's Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole on the Final hours. And that's just a taste. Their full episode on the Case of Asia Degree is out right now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Just search the final hours and make sure you follow if you like it so you don't miss any episodes. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more developing stories. Stay safe and thanks for listening.

[F]

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Thanks for listening to today's episode. Not sure what to listen to next? Check out America's Most Infamous Crimes hosted by Katie Ring. From serial killers to unsolved mysteries and game changing investigations, each week Katie takes a on a notorious criminal case in American history. Listen to and follow America's most infamous crimes now. Wherever you listen to podcasts.