Was there any indication (footprints, etc.) that Asha had spent any length of time in the shed?
Did the recovered bookbag share the soil composition from the shed?
Did the owners of Turner Upholstery own a dog? If so, did it bark often?
What was Asha’s posture as she walked along the highway when spotted by the motorists?
Were the highway’s traffic conditions examined; i.e. number of cars in given time frame, visibility, etc.
Did investigators walk the highway between 3:00 and 4:15 and establish walking conditions and probable speed?
It’s known that Asha’s parents passed a polygraph but did all those closest to her take one as well?
Other than her parents and O’Bryant, were those closest to Asha re-interviewed?
Did investigators consider the off-road trails near Turner Upholstery?
Were alibis double-checked?
What did FBI profilers determine?
A poser for you: Are there any questions you’d like added here? Do you have credible answers for any of these questions I’ve included here? What questions really bother you? I’ll be updating these questions and answers as I learn more. We all need to help Asha’s family and it’s questions that lead to solutions.
Finding Asha Degree, Shelby's Sweetheart 
Asha’s disappearance has baffled and saddened and sickened me since day one. The work and dedication that you’ve put into this blog is amazingly conmendable. I’ve had varying theories over the years as to what might’ve happened to Asha, but of course had to take into account that I didn’t know the answers to what is essentially your list of Intriguing Questions Unanswered. I want to do the legwork. I want to get out there and question folks and I want access to the police files. I want this child -now a woman- to come home to her family. I want the person responsible brought not only to justice, but brought into the light. Because I agree with your theory and research that who ever took Asha is someone thought of as upstanding, and perhaps even pious…that they’re right on the cusp of family. And to have this horrible secret revealed would obliterate their ego and reputation. And I think that the loss of those things is perhaps more damaging to this monster than a prison sentence.
Thank you for this site and for your time and work. I wish I had answers or access to resources. But unfortunately all I’ve got is more questions. My questions at this moment are if the Degree family was/is active in a church community. Was the church family questioned? Requestioned? Her basketball coach(es)? Her friends parents? Who was ruled out and for what reasons? Is any of this info. available to the public? Have the Degrees ever hired a private investigator?
As an addendum (actually just fancy talk for: I’m ’bout to cover my ass) I do live in close proximity to the area. However, I do not know the family or anyone involved with the case or investigation.
Thank you, again!
-jan
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Asha’s disappearance has baffled and saddened and sickened me since day one. The work and dedication that you’ve put into this blog is amazingly commendable.
Thanks for looking at my blog and I agree, this case has me sick to my core. The blog began strangely enough: the day before I started it, I awoke thinking about Asha and decided when I had time I might look into her disappearance. The following morning, I awoke with the strong feeling that I should start that day, and there began the ‘few pages’ I planned for the blog. I started at the Center for Missing & Exploited Kids website, working from simple to complex. What I saw shocked me: it was August 5th—Asha’s birthday. Was this a sign? I didn’t know but I just got sucked deeper and this collection is everything I could find as a civilian.
I’ve had varying theories over the years as to what might’ve happened to Asha, but of course had to take into account that I didn’t know the answers to what is essentially your list of Intriguing Questions Unanswered.
Yes, those question still haunt me, but I know someone knows a ‘little something’ and for this, I hold out hope for a resolution.
I want to do the legwork. I want to get out there and question folks and I want access to the police files. I want this child -now a woman- to come home to her family. I want the person responsible brought not only to justice, but brought into the light. Because I agree with your theory and research that who ever took Asha is someone thought of as upstanding, and perhaps even pious…that they’re right on the cusp of family. And to have this horrible secret revealed would obliterate their ego and reputation. And I think that the loss of those things is perhaps more damaging to this monster than a prison sentence.
Because of liability, I can’t say who I think I is but I think he’s local and knows the area like the back of his hand—off-road trails, included.
Thank you for this site and for your time and work. I wish I had answers or access to resources. But unfortunately all I’ve got is more questions.
I agree. Every answer leads to more questions, the most frustrating part of this blog and my findings.
My questions at this moment are if the Degree family was/is active in a church community. Was the church family questioned? Requestioned? Her basketball coach(es)? Her friends parents? Who was ruled out and for what reasons?
The latest I’ve seen from reports, is the FBI are reexamining all witnesses and re-interviewing but I’m certain the public won’t know much more. The Degrees were (and still are, I believe) members of the same church where Asha was a lifetime member since birth.
Is any of this info. available to the public?
Because of the FBI’s involvement, I’m betting we won’t know much more if there is a new lead.
Have the Degrees ever hired a private investigator?
I haven’t seen anything about a private investigator. They seem to be resigned to law enforcement’s involvement. I can’t say for sure. It would be expensive, especially this late in the game.
As an addendum (actually just fancy talk for: I’m ’bout to cover my ass) I do live in close proximity to the area. However, I do not know the family or anyone involved with the case or investigation.
I would imagine you’re familiar with the area Asha was last seen and how dark Hwy 18 (Fallstaff Rd.) is in the wee hours of the morning, especially during winter rainstorms. That would be quite a distance to travel on foot without benefit of a coat. Children Asha’s age do what they know, what they’ve lived, and Asha was not neglected in any way. She would have donned a jacket at the very least. It’s reported that her mother had Asha and her brother stay inside when it was ‘too cold’ to be outdoors. Asha wasn’t a child conditioned to’ toughing it out.’
None of the theory about Asha leaving on her own accord, traveling up a dark, scary road and then running into the woods when spotted by a motorist makes sense. And so I’m back to where I started.
If you can think of anything, or disagree with something, or I missed anything, let me know. I need to be challenged on any weak areas and might be that ‘one thing’ we all need to bring Asha home—good, not so good, or really bad.
Thanks for your compassionate reply, Jan!
Thank you, again!
-jan
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Also…
1. Why would two separate adults see a young child walking alone in the middle of the night on a road alone, and not call police?
2. Why was her reaction to one of the witnesses turning to look at her three times to run into the wood, presumably to get out of sight? What had she been told (thinking) that would make her want to hide from strangers, knowing she’d risk being caught?
3. Could this evil person have communicated with Asha at church? Most people feel safer at church, presuming everyone else at church are similarly good people. This could’ve been an unintentional lowering of their guard, if the evil person fit in at church
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1. Why would two separate adults see a young child walking alone in the middle of the night on a road alone, and not call police?
The reports have it that the adult motorists didn’t call police until after the TV news reported on Asha missing. It’s
then that the witnesses are claimed to have picked up the phone. I find that hard to believe and I’m working on documenting my claim (I have a decent source, anyway).
2. Why was her reaction to one of the witnesses turning to look at her three times to run into the wood, presumably to get out of sight? What had she been told (thinking) that would make her want to hide from strangers, knowing she’d risk being caught?
That’s the part (her reaction) that hasn’t been made public. I haven’t found any reports about Asha’s posture, how fast she was running, etc. It’s very hard to visualize an innocent child being in such a horrified state. Running into a patch of trees and into the unknown has me convinced that Asha knew her abductor and was under their direction. This person (I believe) had to know her innately–not just her name, but knew her personality and weaknesses. It’s all very sad, and I hope the perpetrator is haunted every day by their actions. I believe this person guided her by false promises. I’m speculating: maybe the abductor hid in the patch of trees, directed her movements, then promised to take her home.
There’s a whole host of possibilities with what this monster said and did, and we are left to make guesses but I believe we will one day learn who this person is.
3. Could this evil person have communicated with Asha at church? Most people feel safer at church, presuming everyone else at church are similarly good people. This could’ve been an unintentional lowering of their guard, if the evil person fit in at church
I’ve heard of girls Asha’s age and thereabouts finding evil at church but I don’t think this so in Asha’s case, as she would have had to be alone one-on-one with this monster and she had her parents with her too much of the time. This was such an orchestrated abduction (I believe) that the perpetrator would have had to have more ‘alone time’ to plan this with Asha by promising her something as I mentioned in the blog. But, I could be wrong and no doors should be closed.
Thanks LL for your time and thinking about those difficult posers whose answers I believe, will one day
help bring a resolution for Asha’s family.
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Hi,
Asha went to school with my daughter but they were not in the same grade. So we only knew about her from what the kids had said at my daughters school and what the news reported.I have recently started reading your blog. Some of the questions I have are the same as yours and others that are listed. My main questions would be:
1. If the motorist seen her during this time, why did they not call the police (same question as one of the other people listed above)?
2. I have a very hard time believing that any sane adult that would see a child out, especially as young as she was, during that time of the morning and the heavy rain and storm, would not at least pick up their cell phone or if they did not own one, drive to the nearest phone both and call the authorities. I just do not believe that for one minute.
All visible signs point to someone very close to her that she trusted and respected has to know what happened to her.
I feel bad for her mother and father and pray that they find her or find out what happened to her. Also, your blog has put some points out there that I had not heard in the media and I completely have changed my direction of thought of who seems like a likely suspect.
Thank you for bringing awareness and hopefully this will help with bringing down who is responsible for her disappearance.
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Thank you so much, Sherry for taking the time for Asha and her family and commenting here on the blog.
I had to shave off some of your comment and send you a private email due to the sensitive nature
of your reply. It’s not a bad thing. 😉
Like you, I feel terribly for the Degree family and it’s this concern that drove me to start the blog. I believe their faith and the strength of their Church family is what still helps them cope. The responsible party/partoes should repent if they are any bit human. We shall see!
I’m going to be honest here and say that what you see here on the blog that may not be in the news
I’ve gotten from asking questions. I also beg anyone that is local to share the blog and please, please
forward anything heard about Asha’s disappearance to me. Many people are shy about going to law enforcement
and if that’s the case, I’ll put it with the collection I’m amassing.
I hear most every year promises where witnesses will be re-interviewed, and evidence looked over again.
BUT, like you, I don’t feel law enforcement need look far. I DO NOT believe family is in any shape or form
responsible for Asha’s disappearance. But, I believe as you do, that someone/those close are better candidates.
I get questioned on a regular basis about who I believe is responsible, but it would be irresponsible of
me to say what all I think. I’m getting to that point, and when I do, I’ll give everything to a volunteer
cold case group (so, stay tuned). I know you didn’t ask me, but you DID help strengthen my arguments!
Thanks again!
~Wendy
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If it is not believed that a 9 y/o could walk the distance between her home and where she was last seen in the timeframe given, could it be that in between the time being at home, and the last sighting less then 2 hours later, that a vehicle was used? If a child was alone in a car with someone, maybe something made them uncomfortable or realize that something was wrong, and left the vehicle? Could this be when the truckers saw a person matching her description run into the woods? Was the trucker (I sense that the one who turned around three times gave a more detailed statement), from the area?
It sticks out to me that, (and this is pure speculation), one would look anyone that may have played an active role in her life. Was it made public that anyone besides her immediate family was ruled out?
Thank you in advance for any insight.
It is commendable that you have kept up your investigation for so long. Hopefully one day soon a conclusion can be reached.
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Thank you, Kristen for your insightful questions.The issue with the sightings was they were up to thirty minutes apart. HWY 18 was a familiar road and on the school bus route. We have to remember the weather where one witness described “a torrential downpour” at the time of his sighting.
I don’t know the witnesses personally, but I believe both are locals.
Law enforcement can’t comment or report on an open investigation. I DO know Asha’s case is being actively pursued and I hope from page 1 forward! It’s only my opinion that everyone should be re-interviewed.
If we keep talking about her case, we will bring Asha home.
~Wendy
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So a “witness” was concerned enough to turn around THREE times to get close enough to see her running into the woods but didn’t call police at that moment?! I hope they gave said “witness ” a lie detector test. Sounds suspicious. Sounds like someone covering their tracks in case someone saw his vehicle in the area. Setting aside why she left…the witness should be examined closely.
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Agreed, Mona. I have many questions myself, but I’m not LE, so I/we have to trust authorities did just that.
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