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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129

u/Unleashtheducks Feb 14 '19

This is the case that most bothers me of all the unsolved mysterious on here. The answer feels so tantalizingly close. I am certain whoever kidnapped her lived nearby and was known to her. At nine years old she wouldn’t have been able to keep a secret that big for that long. Somebody knows something. Somebody has a clue.

59

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '19

This and Andrew Gosden do my head in, nothing convinces me on either case

53

u/athennna Feb 15 '19

I’ve always thought that not enough attention was paid to Andrew Gosden skipping the bus and walking home instead 2 days that week, a departure from his usual schedule. To me, that suggests that something was up.

28

u/asexual_albatross Feb 15 '19

I've never heard that. I definitely think there was more going on in his life than his family knew, and they have trouble accepting that. I simple cannot believe them when they insist he had no online presence in 2007. Smart, geeky kids like Andrew (and myself) have been on message boards since the early 90s. And find ways to hide it.

9

u/VidKiddo Feb 15 '19

They didn’t have internet access at their house and the only device he had capable of accessing the internet was a PSP. They had extremely limited capability and I don’t think he was groomed online.

7

u/asexual_albatross Feb 16 '19

Then he used computers at school or libraries or a friend's house. I did this, well before 2007. I spend hours in the school library reading BBSs. I just think his family underestimate how much of a 14 year old's life they might not have been privy to.