Today marks 26 years since 9-year-old Asha Jaquilla Degree vanished from her Shelby home in Cleveland County on Valentine’s Day 2000. Known as “Shelby’s Sweetheart,” she was last seen walking alone along NC Highway 18 in heavy rain around 3-4 a.m., about a mile from her house; her backpack, packed with clothes, turned up buried in plastic bags nearly 30 miles away in Burke County the next year.
Investigation Progress
Investigators report major advances using new technology over the past two years, including multiple search warrants in areas west of Charlotte tied to the case. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, with FBI and SBI help, now treats it as a likely homicide, with officials saying they’re closer than ever to resolution and justice. Witnesses saw a young Black girl matching her description flee into woods when approached by a motorist.
Community and Rewards
The case remains a fixture in local talk across Cleveland County, with annual walks by family keeping awareness high. A combined $100,000 reward stands, boosted by $25,000 from Gov. Josh Stein alongside the sheriff’s offer, for tips leading to arrest and conviction. Contact Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office or FBI with info. This ties into recent Cleveland County tragedies, like the Crest High crash—such losses hit close in tight communities like Shelby, near your South Carolina interests.
