We first covered Asha’s story in September 2024 after there was some movement in the case. We recommend going to listen to that episode first to get the backstory.
Just as a super quick refresher – Asha was 9 years old when she went missing from Shelby, North Carolina on February 14, 2000. Her remains have never been found. We have just passed the 25 year mark in her case.
In September 2024, Roy and Connie Dedmon were identified as suspects in the case.
In February 2025, we learned more info about developments in the investigation and new court documents have been released.
Lizzie Grace Dedmon Foster is one of three daughters of Roy and Connie. It has been revealed that she was deceptive on a lie detector test when asked if she concealed information. Lizzie was 16 when Asha disappeared, her sister Sarah was 15 and AnnaLee was 13. Roy is now in his 80’s.
Roy and his family have denied any involvement in Asha’s case. AnnaLee’s DNA was found on some items in Asha’s bookback and a car that the Dedmon’s owned has been seized. The car bears a resemblance to one that was linked to Asha’s case.
According to new court documents, Lizzie was seen in the mid-2000s at a house party “‘sobbing and bawling” while being extremely intoxicated.” Thad Mellentine, the person who reported this “occasionally frequented bars and house parties with the Dedmon girls.”
Thad said that Lizzie made “several statements admitting to killing Asha Degree.” The warrant said the acquaintance told investigators that he “specifically” heard her say “I killed Asha Degree.”
The new warrants further said that “upon hearing this statement by Lizzie, her sister Sarah came up and became stern/angry and told Lizzie to ‘shut the [expletive] up.’” He said that Sarah grabbed Lizzie’s head during the exchange and that he thought this behavior was strange as Sarah was usually ‘calm and nice.’
The witness has told police that he is ‘confident in his memory.’ He took a polygraph test regarding his testimony and passed.
Lizzie was contacted by authorities on February 10 2025 and asked to take a polygraph.
As part of the test, she was “asked whether she was concealing information and was found to be deceptive.” Following that interview, warrants said Lizzie called her ex-husband and talked to him for more than 45 minutes. The warrant said he has been “uncooperative” in the case.
The documents mention a text message from Lizzie’s ex-husband, who said he was “sorry” for what their family was going through.
“I’m just so worried,” Lizzie texted her ex-husband. “So so worried. I mean, it’s a nightmare that’s going to keep getting worse. I can see nothing good happening anytime soon. And I’m an optimist.”
She later told him, “There is no way this is going to be okay.”
The warrants also indicate that when the Dedmon family were informed last year that the searches would be undertaken on their properties, Roy and his daughters called each other throughout the day.
The document outlines text exchanges between the sisters on September 10, 2024.
Cell phone records from 9/10/2024:
AnnaLee: “I am so sorry I just said all that.”
AnnaLee: “I am just in complete shock.”
Lizzie: “It’s okay. I’m leaving school.”
According to investigators, over the next day there are several messages between the daughters and another woman in reference to being approached by law enforcement regarding this case.
Sarah: “They think it’s our shirt. It’s not her shirt.”
Sarah: “Her mom said it wasn’t hers.”
Sarah: “I don’t remember that shirt. I’m scared though. Dad is probably going to be a huge suspect.”
Sarah: “This is a nightmare. I’m like shaking and can’t walk now either.”
AnnaLee: Lizzie, you don’t need to be talking to anyone. I’m at the lawyers office this.”
AnnaLee: “Now. They advise we should all not talk to them ‘without representation.’”
Lizzie: “This is going to get nothing but worse. I’m talking to my Dr. at 5 to get something for my nerves.”
Lizzie: “I’m just so worried. So so worried.”
Text from daughter L: “I mean, it’s a nightmare that’s going to keep getting worse. I can see nothing good happening anytime soon. And I’m an optimist.”
In court records, the text messages continue with the three women expressing feelings of anxiety and not initially speaking with authorities.
Lizzie: “What’s gonna happen to me since I wouldn’t talk to them?”
Lizzie: “I’m afraid it’s going to get worse. Well, he told me it’s going to.”
Sarah: “I know girl I am a disaster.”
Sarah: “I think if they come at you again you just go and be compliant.”
Sarah: “That’s what I’m planning on doing.”
Lizzie: “I think so too. Honestly. I mean, I wanna do what dad says.”
More texts included in the warrants revealed that Lizzie told Sarah that she wanted to “do what Dad says.” A few messages later, Sarah said “You don’t want something we do or say [to] impact him but we also can’t be living like this either.”
Lizzie texted Sarah on September 12 2024 and indicated that she believed she was a suspect. “I just talked to David Teddy (the family attorney),” she wrote. “The theory is I did it. Accident. Covered it up.”
The latest search warrants were dated Feb. 13, 2025. In the documents, authorities requested to search both Lizzie and Sarah’s phones, as well as Roy’s.
Documents state that investigators believe further evidence may be stored on the Apple iPhone 14 Pro that belongs to Lizzie and believe it could show the crime(s) of felony obstruction of justice. Records state the date of search as Feb. 13, 2025.
The search of the seized electronic device will include: text messages, phone call logs, notes, internet history, social media applications, pictures and/or videos, email, and more.
Search warrant records were officially signed off on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Search warrants were also obtained for an Apple iPhone 11 Pro that belongs to Roy and an Apple iPhone 11 that is owned by Sarah’ according to court documents.
A former FBI agent has spoken about the texts. “These are really interesting text messages. I don’t know many people who would write those kinds of text messages if they had nothing to do with this incident,” M. Quentin Williams said.
SOURCE LIST
https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/suspect-confession-asha-degree-warrant
Since it was raining the night Asha disappeared it sounds like she was hit by accident from them not seeing her or they were intoxicated and concealed the body. If it was a simple accident, then why did they not call the police and conceal it. It’s awful of the parents to cover it up also! I hope if they did this, they’ll reveal where her remains are. They need the book thrown at them!