Tuesday marks 17 years since Asha Degree disappeared

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — Tuesday marks 17 years since the start of one of Cleveland County’s most high-profile missing person’s cases.

Nine-year-old Asha Degree disappeared near her home near Shelby on Valentine’s Day of 2000.

Investigators believe Asha was abducted.

All of the evidence in the case has been retested, including her book bag, which was found in the woods near Morganton a year after she vanished.

Last weekend, family members held a prayer walk in the area in which Asha was last seen, along Highway 18.

Neighbors, friends and even the county sheriff joined the walk.

He told Channel 9 they are making progress in the case, but wouldn't elaborate.

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Cox Media Group