Row From The Heart

A child’s disappearance, and the questions that never stop echoing It was early in the year 2000 when she disappeared. While a storm raged outside, Asha Degree left her warm bed and stepped into the icy cold. In the middle of the night, nine years old and alone, she slipped out of her home with a backpack on her shoulders — no hat, no coat, nothing to keep her small body warm. Inside the house, Asha’s family slept, unaware of her exit. Several hours earlier, the town of Shelby had been plunged into pitch black darkness when a car struck a power pole. When the power came back on, her father, Harold, checked on his children. Asha shared a room with her brother, O’Bryant, and although he saw her get up to use the bathroom at around 2:30 a.m., he did not see her leave later — only heard the sound of the bed squeaking. Asha was a shy but spirited little girl, with parents and a brother who adored her. By all accounts, she was happy, and there were no problems at home or at scho...