179. Looks Like A Vanishing On A Rainy Night - Asha Degree's Mysterious Walk-Away

On the night before Valentine’s Day 2000 (which, like this year, was also part of a three-day Presidents Day weekend), a beautiful 9 year-old girl named Asha Degree and her ten year-old brother O’Bryant went to bed in their Shelby North Carolina home.  Sometime around 2:30 am, O’Bryant heard his sister go to the bathroom and return to bed – but when he was awakened in the morning by his frantic mother, he found out what the rest of the nation was about to learn – young Asha had disappeared.  And what made the whole thing baffling is that every indication was that Asha had left of her own free will.  There were no signs of a break-in nor anything else that would indicate anyone took her from the home.  Her backpack and some clothes were missing, indicating she had planned to leave.  Even more baffling was the fact that it was heavily raining the night/early morning when Asha disappeared.  A witness claimed to have seen her walking in the downpour, but when offered a ride she ran into nearby woods.  Would a nine year-old child really strike out on her own on a cold and rainy early morning?  If so, where was she going?  Did she plan on meeting someone?  If so, who…and where…and…why?  And why has Asha Degree never been found?  Or her remains – after all these years?  Melissa delves into the nooks and crannies of this disturbing unsolved disappearance – and as always – encourages anyone who knows anything about what happened to young Asha Degree on Presidents Day Weekend 2000, please call the FBI’s Charlotte North Carolina field office at (704) 672-6100.