Officials search rural NC buildings in case of Asha Degree, girl missing for 25 years
Authorities searched several buildings on a rural western Lincoln County property Friday morning as part of the continuing investigation into the disappearance of 9-year-old Asha Degree from Cleveland County 25 years ago.
The owner of the property at N.C. 274 and N.C. 182 “gave consent for the search and is not connected to our ongoing investigation in any way,” Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman said on social media.
Asha vanished after leaving her home in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2000.
Deputies and FBI and SBI agents conducted the search with help from Lincoln County sheriff’s investigators, Norman said, declining to release further details.
In declining to comment, Charlotte FBI spokeswoman Shelley Lynch and Lincoln County sheriff’s spokesman Larry Seagle referred The Charlotte Observer to Norman’s statement.
Norman urged anyone with information about Asha’s disappearance to call his office at 704-484-4756.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM.