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Video Transcript

It’s been 24 years since 9-year-old Asha Degree disappeared from her home in Shelby, North Carolina.  

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the SBI have a team dedicated to finding out exactly what happened after she disappeared on February 14th, two thousand. 

Detective Tim Adams leads the investigation. "This is something we really feel like can be solved and we are determined to solve it."

Sheriff Alan Norman was a lieutenant when Asha vanished. The search for Asha is a priority to him. "No one has forgotten about Asha, not myself, not the Sheriff’s office, not the community."

A billboard with her photo and an age progressed image sits alongside Highway 18 where Asha was last seen. Where was Asha going? The child didn’t have a cell phone and there were no surveillance cameras. But investigators do have valuable evidence and advancements in technology are promising to the case. "We actually have things that aid us now that we didn’t have 24 months ago, much less 24 years ago."

I can tell you that there have been so many cases not only here, but across the nation that have actually recently within the past days and a couple of years that have actually been solved due to technology that is out there. I truly feel like progress is being made and I have high hopes that it is going to be solved and we’re going to have some answers for the family."

Over the years, the public has sent in more than 700 tips. We are confident someone hasn’t told investigators everything they know. "We are asking you to come forward, eventually we are going to find you and bring you to justice."

"We will never stop looking for Asha." If you have information call the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office 704-484-48-22 the FBI at 1-800- CALL FBI or tips.fbi.gov. There is a combined reward up to $45,000.