New Evidence Links Dedmon Family to Asha Degree’s Disappearance

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – New search warrants have revealed potential involvement of a Cleveland County family in the February 2000 disappearance of Asha Degree, who was just 9 years old at the time. More than 25 years after Asha vanished from her home in Shelby, North Carolina, investigators are focusing on the Dedmon family, including Roy Dedmon and his daughters.

The warrants, executed on February 13, 2025, suggest that members of the Dedmon family might have obstructed justice in relation to Asha’s case. Authorities first identified the Dedmon family as persons of interest in September 2024 when they stated that they believe Asha was killed. The warrants show that law enforcement considers Asha’s possible homicide linked to the actions of Roy Dedmon and his three daughters: AnnaLee Dedmon Ramirez, Lizzie Dedmon Foster, and Sarah Dedmon Caple.

The investigation into Asha Degree’s disappearance has been ongoing for over two decades, with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborating in the effort. According to the search warrants, Lizzie Foster, then known as Lizzie Dedmon, was 16 years old when Asha went missing, while Sarah Dedmon Caple was 15.

In a significant testimony, a man who mingled with the Dedmon daughters in the mid-2000s told law enforcement about a party where Foster appeared distressed and intoxicated, allegedly telling him, “I killed Asha Degree.” He reported that Dedmon Caple reacted sharply, urging Foster to keep quiet. The man has expressed confidence in his recollections and passed a polygraph test, although such results are not allowable as evidence in North Carolina.

Further examination of text messages from Lizzie Foster’s iCloud account revealed conversations suggesting feelings of guilt and possible involvement in Asha’s fate. In one exchange with her sister, Foster indicated, “The theory is I did it. Accident. Covered it up.” Dedmon Caple replied to reassure her, “This is NOT YOUR FAULT.”

Authorities also found connections between Asha’s belongings discovered months after her disappearance and members of the Dedmon family. Her book bag was discovered along Highway 18 in Burke County, and forensic evidence indicated a potential link to AnnaLee Dedmon Ramirez’s DNA.

The FBI is still interested in a green vehicle, possibly a 1970s-era Ford Thunderbird or Lincoln Mark IV, which could have been used in Asha’s abduction. Earlier vehicles connected to the Dedmon family, including a 1964 AMC Rambler that Dedmon Caple drove at the time, exhibited similar characteristics to the vehicle identified by the FBI.

Despite the revelations and ongoing investigation, no arrests have been made, nor have any charges been filed against the Dedmon family members as of February 18, 2025. Roy Dedmon’s attorney characterized the family’s connections to Asha’s case as “tenuous, at best,” urging the public not to leap to conclusions based on the released search warrants.

Authorities have reiterated the importance of allowing law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation without public speculation. Despite the lack of arrests, the investigation remains active as investigators sift through new evidence and continue to pursue leads in the case.