Shelby Star: Asha Degree Timeline

The following was published by The Shelby Star on (or about) 18 August 2000. It was written by Andrew Dys, Star Staff Writer. The copyright is retained by the Shelby Star. It appears here for the purpose of research and education. Your True Crime Library ™ does not own the following article excerpt.

Asha Degree's timeline from Thursday through Monday

Thursday, 10 February 2000:

Asha, a fourth-grader at Fallston Elementary School, rides the bus to school, and rides the bus home.

Fallston Principal Steve Borders said that school staff know of no problems or incidents at school that could have triggered Asha to run away. He said Asha is an honors student who loves school, and has missed only one day of school this year, with that coming in September.

Sheriff Dan Crawford said Asha and her 10-year-old brother O'Bryant stayed at home doing homework until their parents, Harold and Iquilla Degree, got home from work. Iquilla works at Kawai America Co. in Lincolnton and Harold works at PPG. Crawford said Harold normally works second shift, but worked first shift Thursday and Friday.

Both her mother and father said that Asha loves school.

"It appears that it was just a normal school day and home day," Crawford said. "The mother and father are excellent parents who expect a lot academically from their children and demand they be at home after school."

Friday, 11 February 2000:

Cleveland County Schools are off for the day. Crawford said Asha and O'Bryant stayed with their aunt, Kisha Degree, down the street during the day.

Both children had peewee basketball practice that afternoon at Fallston Elementary School, then came home afterward.

Her coach, Chad Wilson, said that the practice was normal. "Asha was her usual fun-filled self," Wilson said. "She had a good practice."

Saturday, 12 February 2000:

Both Asha and O'Bryant had basketball games Saturday at Burns Middle School, with the girls' game played first.

Asha's team lost, and Asha was crying afterward. Asha fouled out of the game. Crawford said Asha's the type of kid who might have felt responsible for her team's loss.

Both her mother and Wilson said that she took the loss hard initially, but perked up afterward.

Asha's parents said that Asha cried after the game and it took a while for her to be consoled. Her mother said Asha felt bad and even said her leg hurt. Her mother said she told Asha that she really wasn't hurt and could go ahead and walk, and that Asha soon perked up.

Wilson said he was present the whole time and that Asha didn't have any problems with anyone, and soon admitted her leg really wasn't hurt. He said she then played with the other girls.

"All the girls were crying, not just Asha, and they had a good cry afterward because it was the first loss," Wilson said. "Just a few minutes later, she was up smiling and joking and having a good time. I sat behind her for part of the boys' game, and tossed a towel over her head and joked with her. She didn't show any behavior or say anything that led me to believe she was unhappy. We joked like we normally do, and she was very happy when sitting with her mother. The family is a loving family, and her parents are just great. They are always at the games cheering both kids on."

The family went home after the games.

Sunday, 13 February 2000:

The family went to church at Macedonia Missionary Baptist church in Waco, then went to an aunt's house for lunch, then went home.

Asha's grandmother, Joanne Jackson, said Asha was happy when she received her Valentine's Day candy on Sunday.

Her mother said that Asha was happy during the day Sunday.

Crawford said Asha went to bed around 8 p.m.

Electricity went off in the Degree's neighborhood just before 9 p.m., after a car wreck nearby.

Monday, 14 February 2000:

When electrical service is restored around 12:30 a.m., Asha's father sees both Asha and O'Bryant in their beds. The children sleep in the same room.

Asha's father goes to bed around 2:30 a.m.

Two motorists see a girl who matches Asha's description on Highway 18, 1.2 miles south of the Degree home near the intersection of Highway 180, at 3:45 a.m. and 4:15 a.m. Crawford said the motorists did not call police until about 5 p.m. Monday, after seeing on television that the girl was considered missing.

Asha's mother goes into the bedroom at 6:30 a.m. to wake the children for school, and Asha was not in her bed. Asha's father calls police and the search for her begins.

Family finds that Asha has left wearing white sneakers, white jeans, carrying a black bookbag and a purse with Tweety Bird on it.

Other clothing missing from Asha's room includes her favorite blue jeans with a red stripe, and a long-sleeved, white nylon shirt, and a red vest trimmed in black. Another outfit missing includes black overalls with Tweety Bird on them and a black and white long-sleeved shirt.

There have been no sightings of Asha or any of her belongings since the two motorists saw her on Highway 18.