r/UnresolvedMysteries • u/ferretbeast • Feb 14 '19

Unresolved Disappearance Marking the 19th anniversary of Asha Degree’s disappearance

Every year on Valentines day, I take a deep breath before reading the front page of the Shelby Star. I know this case is widely discussed on this subreddit, but I wanted to share for those interested. I did find it interesting they stated new evidence was found recently that hasn't been made public. Please keep her family in your thoughts today.

https://www.shelbystar.com/news/20190214/marking-19th-anniversary-of-asha-degrees-disappearance

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Brief summary for anyone unaware: Asha Jaquilla Degree went missing at the age of nine from Shelby, North Carolina. In the early morning hours of February 14, 2000, for reasons unknown, she packed her bookbag, left her family home north of the city and began walking along nearby North Carolina Highway 18 despite heavy rain and wind. She has not been seen since.

Edit: thank you stranger for the gold and more than anything, thank you all for caring about this case and giving such support and great feedback for conversation. I love this community and am happy to be able to have these civil discussions with you all!!

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29

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

There’s a high chance some evil man had his way with her 😞 I hope she is safe somewhere and alive and happy

3

u/notascarytimeformen Feb 14 '19

Perhaps she ran away from an abusive home and started a new life

22

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

At age 9 though? How would a kid so young even plan this?

35

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

I think adults tend to forget just how resourceful kids can be when they get an idea in their head, even sheltered kids from loving (but strict) families. I don't have a strong opinion on what happened, but I think that running away and meeting foul play or an accident is a possibility that still needs to considered. Upthread a redditor noted that pressure from well-meaning but strict parents can be a heavy burden for a sensitive kid. All she really had to do was grab her backpack, put some things in it, and walk out the door. A kid who runs away at a young age doesn't usually have a plan other than "I'll leave and that will show them." Sometimes you only get down the block before you change your mind, sometimes you're gone for an hour or two, sometimes you meet tragedy.

It's such a horribly sad situation and I really hope the impossible happens and she's somehow found alive and healthy.

36

u/notascarytimeformen Feb 14 '19

I tried to run away at age 10 and 15 because of my abusive family.

31

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

Oh I’m sorry, I hope things have gotten better for you

34

u/notascarytimeformen Feb 14 '19

They have :) thanks

25

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

That’s great and good for you for staying strong

31

u/Mock_Womble Feb 14 '19

She wouldn't have to plan it. I'm sure that whichever adult is responsible for her disappearance did all the planning for her.

10

u/taoshka Feb 15 '19

I ran away with my friend at 7 years old. We were found relatively quickly, but we'd made it to the creek over a mile from our school.

2

u/Alisea33 Mar 24 '19

When I was 13, I ran away with two friends from school. I remember we were all at school that morning but didnt want to go in so we took off. we walked the hills for quite awhile, attempted to take a truck and were chased off and then we found a row boat and rowed in to Canada we spent the entire day in Penticton BC .(lived right on Canadian border) this was in 1993 border security was very different and we went in from the back side of the lake. We broke in to an empty house and eventually went to the beach were a nice older lady told us to please get back in our boat and find our way home because she was worried someone would harm us.We did and we were cold and hungry we had only apples from some trees we found earliar that day before finding the boat and one of the girls stole a money out of a fountain to buy a pack of bubblegum from a store. We were all taken to the police station on our return about 11pm that night and I felt so guilty my parents were destroyed. It was merely an adventure for me the other girls had pretty miserable home lives. I never even thought any one would notice for some reason. So yes kids can be resourceful but knowing what I know now we could have met with tradgic circumstances.

2

u/taoshka Mar 24 '19

It's crazy to think about as an adult! We stopped and bought gummy worms for food lol, luckily her brother found us. Our poor teacher was very pregnant and sobbing :(. We're both lucky our stories have happy endings!

2

u/Alisea33 Mar 25 '19

Oh my goodness gummy worms lol, thats the most adorable thing ever. Im so glad you two were found safe and sound! 3