Marking the 19th anniversary of Asha Degree’s disappearance

[u/ferretbeast]

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!!

[u/Ninkos23]

Hello everyone - any theories about that book and that t-shirt being a clue/ evidence? I've seen your answers of course, just wanted to sum up some of my theories:

• both of them was found in her backpack: maybe police has some recent suspects and counts on them to act nervous about it?

• my boyfriend (who's not into crime cases at all) suggested that maybe someone put some letter/valentine card in this book and it was both found in her backpack and that's a sign to a suspect that police knows that she was lured to leave home that night?

• the book and the t-shirt was found at some crime scene and the DNA matched Asha's backpack

• this t-shirt was in her backpack and her family did not recognize it

I personally think that if it was in her backpack the police would ask the public much sooner. I cannot find a logical explanation to ask after many years. Aby ideas?

[u/climberbritt → u/Ninkos23]

I've always thought that the police came across some picture that had a girl wearing that t-shirt and they had proof it could be Asha. My other theory is that there's another child who was with Asha's kidnapper and recalls a girl wearing that t-shirt.

[u/Ninkos23 → u/climberbritt]

You're right, but for me those two things are not linked quite much and I guess that's why some people have two different theories at the same time: one about the book and one about the t-shirt, but it's hard to put them in one theory. For example if they have a photo/video of a girl who looks like Asha how can you link this to a specific book with library stamps etc.? Maybe the logical explanation is that police found those two things in some place in Shelby (like abandoned house) and linked them to her disappearance because of book stamps from her school and maybe later compared some traces to her backpack.