In an effort to reignite a cold case that has remained in the minds of North Carolinians for over two decades, Governor Josh Stein has announced a reward of up to $25,000 for crucial information. The reward is for details leading to an arrest and conviction in the missing person case of Asha Degree, a 9-year-old girl who disappeared in 2000 and whose case continues to haunt Cleveland County. This development, announced in a press release from the Governor's Office yesterday, has brought renewed attention to the case.
The unsettling disappearance of Asha Degree occurred on Valentine's Day, a date which should convey affection, not the pang of loss. Drivers spotted Asha walking along NC Highway 18 in the dark hours before dawn, after she seemingly left her family home on her own accord. The last sighting placed her shortly before 4:00 a.m., which stands in perplexing contrast to the 2:30 a.m. sighting of her by her family asleep in her room. Asha's parents, finally noticing her absence, reported her missing to the authorities at approximately 6:30 a.m on that day. This information is in accordance with a statement obtained by the Governor’s Office.
The longstanding mystery of Asha's motives for leaving, and her subsequent vanishing, has confounded both the community and law enforcement for 25 years. Over the years, several items belonging to Asha have been found, but none have led to a substantive break in the case. The Governor's Office hopes that the substantial reward will compel individuals with knowledge of the case to come forward, to finally bring closure to Asha’s family and the wider community who've been to look haunted by her absence.
Inquiries about the reward or information pertinent to the case can be directed to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.
