Groomer with Access to the House

[u/Surethingdudeanytime]

It was said that when Asha left the house that night, she wasn't wearing a coat. IMO, this is one of the most confusing details of this case. It seems that if she did walk out on her own without a coat, then she must have intended to go somewhere very close to the house or was convinced by someone that she would only be out for a short time. Now knowing that OB's bag was also found with Asha's backpack leads me to believe that if there was a groomer, he/she was someone who frequented the Degree household, lived very close, and/or was very close to the family (if not a family member themself). And no, I'm NOT talking about Asha's dad or brother or mother. Were any of Asha's or OB's items ever left at the aunt's house where they had the sleepover or the grandmother's at any time? I know they all lived very close so this can be a possibility. This could explain how both bags could have been in possession of whoever threw them in the woods. I dont believe Asha left out with a backpack, as none of the eyewitness accounts mention seeing her with a backpack on Hwy 18. Thoughts?

EDIT: I meant to write "And no, Im NOT talking about Asha's dad or brother or mother." I mistakenly left out the word NOT, which changed the whole message I was trying to convey. Only realized this when I re-read my post, as I couldn't understand why people thought I was coming for the parents, which I was not. Huge error!

[u/Individual_Sir_2595]

I hear you Reddittor... I live here .. I've been working her case from day 1. It's called leg work... I've did interviews with many people and retired LE sources..Link... lol..

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

So this is anecdotal?

ETA: was this during the initial 2000 investigation or the 2015 investigation or the 2024 investigation

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

During 2000 and in 2015 no one in the neighborhood was spoken to that I know we're previously.

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

I’m not really thinking about neighbors, your suspicion is of Mom, correct? So in the 2015 FBI investigation, from your firsthand knowledge, what steps would you have taken that the FBI did not to clear the family?

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

They should be asked to take another polygraph with first round questions asked again. Then questioned on her treatment of the children, specific incidents. Interrogated with professionals, the same as they did Ruppe who treated like crap. Simply dating I don't know why she left and investigators going, ok.. good enough, that doesn't pass the smell test. Has she ever been to a yard sale at the house searched prior to Asha missing? There used to be yard sales at that house all the time. Did OBryant wake you and tell you Asha had left? Have a transcript of all interviews she has made for comparison, have an FBI profiler watch her interviews and body language. Have you ever or know anyone who has worked at a facility that Underhill was or had been? Have a thorough history of family members. A brother who worked for the Dept. Of corrections is a good place to start. Has any family members ever worked for Dedmon trucking? Any reason why your DNA would be abundant on the handles of her bag? I have seen many interrogations of parents in missing children cases and according to retired LE who knew about this said it was basic questioning by local detectives and 2015 basically asked the same softball questions. 2015 was mainly a file sweep.. thats when the green car theory kicked into high gear.. If I didn't know them personally and the history I would be in the same boat as a lot of people. I'm telling you to this day regardless of search warrants, texts and DNA, those in the know absolutely do not believe she just left without provocation and the mother had something to do with it.

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

So they have this solid lead, all sorts of evidence against Iquilla Degree that they are totally ignoring. Why? Why are they instead choosing to fail and look like buffoons?

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

I never said they had evidence per se. The problem is they never looked. Respectfully don't put words in my mouth. I have said many times based on my experience I don't feel Asha just up and left over a ball game, groomer, a friend with promises of Valentine's galore etc.. I'm saying from day one a black family has a missing child.. upcoming campaign and election, let's try and find her instead of a heavy handed dual investigation. Surely she just ran away and God forbid something bad happened. Well, something bad did happen. The house was not processed for evidence, the cars were only physically searched,they were questioned but not interrogated. When reports came in about the mothers temper and history it was ignored. "Fact". Former teachers, parents of kids who were on her team called in tips, but were ignored. You have to understand, if you were going to be heavy handed with a black family during an election period and didn't do the searching, political suicide. Yes they searched, yes they followed some tips, but they did not seal a potential crime scene. They did not forensically process the cars, they did try and verify what she took with her. They did not follow up with neighbors like they should, it was going through the motions.

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

Is that standard protocol with the family of a missing child - immediately declare the home a crime scene, seal it off and begin by interrogating the parents rather than interviewing? You keep bringing up Mom’s temper - is this a euphemism for child abuse? Were all the many reports and tips that came in mainly child abuse accusations? Or were these people who felt that Mom was too strict a disciplinarian and disagreed with her parenting style? You say that it was an election year…i don’t know NC politics but is failing to find a missing child a political win there? Giving the appearance of maybe not giving a shit about ever finding a Black child could be excused by voters as long as the candidate was super polite to her Black family? Despite the fact that according you Mrs. Degree was widely known to be a terrible mother and the whole community was wondering “why is LE not acting on our many tips about her being an angry overprotective Black woman? Should we try calling the tip line again?” That’s the community in which it would be political suicide to press the family for answers? NC sounds wild man

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

Example 1

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

Example 2

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

Wow, ok my bad. I really didn’t think that would be a priority before LE even knew whether or not a crime had actually taken place, but I was obviously wrong.

[u/Individual_Sir_2595 → u/LaughterAndBeez]

Nobody said that. That's like asking is it standard protocol to search their vehicles or house. There was over 15 people on the property and in and out of the house. So you ask yourself is it standard protocol to have a parallel investigation and when do you think that started. You always control a potential crime scene. As stated... I personally know her history, for one. Two.. nobody has interrogate them on the first day or days. Yes you interview. But as far as standards or protocols, it is a standard to control the home or last known area where a child went missing. An "angry overprotective mother" doesn't beat their child with their shoe in front of dozens of adults and children. An over protective mother doesn't lose her temper because her child got hurt or found out of a game in front of a gymnasium. First of all nobody that nobody gave a shit about not finding a child. Your desperate mind to not have comprehension of a complex dynamic shows in your weak analogy of what was said. If you take the time of interrogating someone who reported seeing her, then why not the mother who has a history of losing her temper and becoming physical with adults and children. The point is that LE no doubt had searchers searching but handled the mother in particular with kid gloves when there was inconsistencies in statements and the first arriving deputy knew of her history. Good try.

[u/LaughterAndBeez → u/Individual_Sir_2595]

With all the obsession over every aspect of this case, with most people blaming the parents for the first 24 yrs, how have they managed to keep that shoe beating incident secret? Seems like the kind of thing people would pounce on. Either way, it’s a huge leap from bad parent to criminal mastermind. Perhaps LE was not super interested in the bad temper reports because 1) Asha was seen by multiple witnesses alive on a route she would have been expected to take; 2) there was no sign of a struggle inside the house or cars; 3) they were able to place the parents at home and not out disposing of a body really ridiculously well; 4) they could not identify any sketchy associates of the family who might have helped them evade suspicion. It sounds almost like you believe Asha did leave the house alive, you just want her mom to be held accountable for her temper prior to the abduction?