Asha Degree believed to have been killed, suspects identified

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- A batch of recently executed search warrants is shedding new light on the case for Asha Degree.

The series of warrants, which spanned Cleveland, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties, indicates a chilling new detail: investigators believe the girl “is a victim of homicide, with her body concealed.”

Also new in the documents, though, is the naming of suspects.

Asha – who was nine at the time of her disappearance – was last seen on Feb. 14, 2000, walking along Highway 18 in Shelby. As investigators have over the years, the new warrants state that as she was walking, she “was seen being pulled into a 1970s green Lincoln, Thunderbird or another similar vehicle.” That was the last time anyone reported seeing her.

The warrants said that after the evidence was collected, it was sent for analysis and returned two positive DNA samples. One of the samples belonged to Russell Bradley Underhill, and the other to AnnaLee Victoria Dedmon Ramirez.

Investigators found that a couple, Roy and Connie Dedmon, were the common link between Underhill and AnnaLee Victoria Dedmon Ramirez, and identified them as suspects.

Authorities determined AnnaLee, who was 13 at the time Asha went missing, is the couple’s daughter. Underhill lived in at least two facilities operated by the couple, and a healthcare services consent form listed Roy Dedmon as his emergency contact. He died in 2004.

The couple has two other children, who were ages 16 and 15 when Asha was last seen. Because of their ages, the warrant said “investigators believe adult assistance from Roy Dedmon and Connie Dedmon would have been necessary in the execution and/or concealment” of any crimes committed.

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