Crime Junkie Podcast Episode Summary: UPDATE: Asha Degree
Introduction
In the February 26, 2025 episode of Crime Junkie titled "UPDATE: Asha Degree," hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt Prawat delve deep into one of North Carolina's most perplexing cold cases—the disappearance of nine-year-old Asha Degree. Joined by special guest Delia D'Amber, host of Counterclock and Park Predators, the episode offers fresh insights and recent developments that shed new light on this enduring mystery.
Background of the Asha Degree Case
Asha Degree vanished on the night of February 13, 2000, from her family's home in Shelby, North Carolina. Despite extensive searches and numerous leads over the past 25 years, her disappearance remains unsolved, leaving her family and community searching for answers.
Ashley Flowers [02:19]: "This has been a wild couple of weeks when it comes to updates in cold cases. And one of North Carolina's most infamous cases, the disappearance of Asha Degree was the latest to break."
Timeline of Asha's Disappearance
On Valentine's Day eve, February 13, 2000, Asha and her brother O'Brien were at home. Due to a car accident that knocked out their power, their usual bedtime routine was disrupted. Around midnight to 2:30 AM, Asha disappeared from her locked bedroom, leaving behind her belongings. Her father, Harold, reported her missing at 6:30 AM after discovering she was gone.
Dispatcher [09:12-10:58]:
[09:12] Dispatcher: 911.
[09:13] Harold Degree: Yes, I'd like to report a child missing.
...
[10:58] Delia D'Amber: Bye.
Initial Investigation and Leads
Early investigations focused on the possibility of Asha leaving voluntarily, given the absence of forced entry and the disappearance of her personal items. However, Asha's shy and fearful nature made this theory less credible. A crucial lead emerged when a motorist reported seeing a girl matching Asha's description near Highway 18 between 3:30 and 4:00 AM, dressed in her daytime clothes rather than her nightgown. Another sighting by a truck driver described a green vehicle, either a 1970s Lincoln Mark 4 or a Ford Thunderbird, influencing the FBI's focus on these models.
Delia D'Amber [04:09]: "It's one of those cases where, you know, if you're local and it was locally known... agencies and news outlets outside of the state of North Carolina really didn't cover it much until recently."
Breakthroughs in 2016: The Green Car Element
In May 2016, the FBI released new information suggesting Asha was seen entering a dark green vehicle, a lead that had not been previously connected to the case. Despite this revelation, no immediate breakthroughs occurred, causing the case to remain stagnant for several years.
Ashley Flowers [18:04]: "So in May of 2016, the FBI released that they believed a girl matching Asha's description got into a dark green vehicle."
Recent Developments in 2024
A significant resurgence in the investigation occurred in early September 2024, marked by increased law enforcement activity in Cleveland and Lincoln Counties. Authorities executed search warrants on properties owned by Roy and Connie Dedman, rooted in the discovery of Asha’s belongings years earlier and new DNA evidence linking the Dedman family to the case.
Delia D'Amber [20:08]: "Authorities have been following Asha's case. They noticed that the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, the NCSBI have like, descended on some properties and they are up to something in Shelby."
Suspicious Evidence and Family Connections
The search warrants revealed troubling connections between the Dedman family and Asha's disappearance. Specifically, DNA evidence from a book bag found in 2016 matched Russell Bradley Underhill, a tenant related to the Dedmans, linking him directly to Asha’s belongings. Additionally, communications between Roy Dedman and his daughters showed signs of obstruction, with texts indicating stress and potential involvement in covering up Asha’s disappearance.
Delia D'Amber [22:55]: "Roy and Connie have three daughters... All of the properties in Cleveland county were owned by a couple named Roy and Connie Dedman."
Ashley Flowers [31:04]: "There is a text exchange between Annaleigh and Lizzie on September 10, 2024, where Annalee says, 'I am so sorry I just said all that... I'm scared though. Dad is probably going to be a huge suspect.'"
Key Communications Highlighting Suspicion
Examination of text messages from September 2024 revealed alarming communication patterns among the Dedman family members. Notably, messages from Annalee to Lizzie expressed fear and implied their father’s possible involvement. Subsequent texts suggested that Lizzie felt responsible for Asha’s disappearance, while Sarah advised compliance with investigators.
Notable Quotes:
- Annalee to Lizzie [31:13] "I'm scared though. Dad is probably going to be a huge suspect."
- Lizzie to Ex-Husband [32:32] "I'm just so anxious about, like, what's going on behind the scenes."
- Sarah to Lizzie [33:16] "The theory is, I did it, accident covered it up."
Witness Testimony: Thad Mellentine's Revelation
A pivotal moment in the recent investigation was testimony from Thad Mellentine, who claimed to have overheard Lizzie Dedman admitting to killing Asha at a house party in the mid-2000s. Despite initial skepticism, Mellentine passed a polygraph test, lending credibility to his statements.
Delia D'Amber [38:55]: "Thad tells the sheriff's office that... at one particular house party, after Asha Degree vanished, he saw Lizzie... sobbing... her sister Sarah immediately... tells her to 'shut the fuck up.'"
Ashley Flowers [39:02]: "I don't think that's a bad idea. If the dude's not lying, the story he told is worth looking into."
Theories and Speculations
The episode explores multiple theories surrounding Asha’s disappearance. While an accidental death, such as a hit-and-run, remains plausible, the possibility of foul play orchestrated by the Dedman family surfaces heavily due to the evidential DNA links and incriminating communications. The interplay between the family's actions post-disappearance, including obstructive behavior towards investigators, further complicates the narrative.
Delia D'Amber [35:48]: "It definitely feels like maybe something tragic happened back in 2000, but everything that's gone on since then is just very suspicious."
Ashley Flowers [36:31]: "Why did she leave her house? If she left willingly, was she lured?"
Conclusion and Current Status
As of the recording of this episode, no formal arrests have been made, and Asha Degree remains missing. However, the latest developments and emerging evidence suggest that significant progress may be on the horizon. The Dedman family's potential involvement, coupled with supportive witness testimony, indicates that the case may finally approach resolution after decades of uncertainty.
Asha's Mother, Iquilla Degree [39:56]: "I believe she is still alive. And until somebody can prove me wrong, I'm still going to believe that because I have hope."
Ashley Flowers [39:59]: "This case seems to just keep evolving. Every day, new updates and maybe even possible arrests could come literally any second now."
Call to Action
Listeners are encouraged to come forward with any information regarding Asha Degree’s disappearance. Contact details for the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office and the FBI's Charlotte office are provided for tips and leads.
Ashley Flowers [40:16]: "If you guys have any information about the disappearance of Asha Degree... please call the Cleveland County Sheriff's office at 704-484-4788 or the FBI's Charlotte office at 704-867-26100."
Final Thoughts
This episode of Crime Junkie not only revisits a long-standing cold case but also invigorates the search for truth with new evidence and testimonies. Ashley Flowers and Delia D'Amber's meticulous exploration underscores the relentless pursuit of justice for Asha Degree, offering hope to her family and listeners alike.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Ashley Flowers [03:09]: "You need to come tell this story. You need to get all the search warrants and, like, get on a plane and come to Indianapolis immediately."
- Delia D'Amber [03:23]: "But because it is this case, I knew, like, okay, I got to get my hands on these search warrants."
- Dispatcher [09:12-10:19]: The verbatim 911 call reporting Asha Degree missing.
- Annalee to Lizzie [31:13]: "I'm scared though. Dad is probably going to be a huge suspect."
- Lizzie to Ex-Husband [32:32]: "I'm just so anxious about, like, what's going on behind the scenes."
- Thad Mellentine [38:55]: "Lizzie... sobbing... her sister Sarah immediately... tells her to 'shut the fuck up.'"
- Iquilla Degree [39:56]: "I believe she is still alive. And until somebody can prove me wrong, I'm still going to believe that because I have hope."
Resources and Further Information
For more details, listeners can visit the Crime Junkie website at crimejunkiepodcast.com and follow their Instagram account @crimejunkiepodcast.
Production Attribution
This episode was produced by Audiochuck Media Company.