Hell and Gone Murder Line: Asha Degree

This episode of Hell and Gone investigates the 2000 disappearance of nine-year-old Aisha Degree from Shelby, North Carolina, on Valentine's Day during a violent storm. Aisha was last seen walking alone on Highway 18, and despite a massive search and multiple sightings, her body has never been found. The case took a dramatic turn in 2024 when law enforcement issued search warrants targeting the Dedman family—Roy, Connie, and their three daughters—after DNA from Anna Lee Dedman and Vietnam veteran Russell Underhill was found on Aisha’s undershirt and in her backpack. A 2025 search uncovered a wrecked green AMC Rambler, believed to match a vehicle of interest from 2016, and a human tooth was found on Roy Dedman’s property. A witness claimed Anna Lee confessed to killing Aisha while intoxicated, though the statement is unverified. Despite these developments, no charges have been filed, and the family maintains innocence. The investigation remains active, with a $100,000 reward still offered for information leading to a conviction. The episode underscores the emotional toll on Aisha’s family and the challenges of cold case investigations, where circumstantial evidence and DNA transfer complicate the search for truth.