Asha Degree, a ten-year-old is missing from North Carolina-Truth!

A 10 Year Old Girl Named Asha Degree is Missing from North Carolina-Truth!

Summary of eRumor
The email being circulated says Asha Degree disappeared on Valentine's Day, 2000, and asks that people circulate a picture of her as a part of trying to solve the case and have her returned safely. The email says it's written by a cousin of Asha's and refers people to the web page of a television station in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Truth
Asha Degree is a real person who, according to police, never

returned to her home in Shelby, North Carolina, after reportedly walking away early in the morning on February 14, 2,000.

TruthOrFiction.com has received several requests from readers about this story, partly because the email that is being circulated is written so poorly.

The email asks for help yet doesn't say where the girl disappeared from or where to call if you have information about her, so it's easy to suspect that the story is not authentic.

The Charlotte television station whose website is referenced in the email, WBTV, has confirmed to TruthOrFiction.com that the story was carried on their station but that they were not prepared to serve as a source for the story or a place where emails should be sent.

They do have a hotline about Asha at 704 476-3030. Asha's family had received invitations to appear on several national television programs to publicize the girl's disappearance and to plead for help. Also, the MISSING CHILDREN HELP CENTER of the NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN DIVISION of the NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL included Asha in their online database. See link below.

This eRumor started circulating in 2000 when Asha disappeared. As of 6/16/08, the last time we checked with the police, she was still missing.

Updated 6/16/08

For more information:

Missing Children Help Center Click "Posters of Missing Children" then do a search on the page for "Asha" or "Degree."

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

MISSING GIRL—PLEASE PASS ON!!

Hello everybody this is Shomari asking a huge favor on the part of my dearest friends. I need for you to send my cousin Asha Degree's picture to as many people as you know and to as many States as you can. She has been missing since Monday February 14, 2000 between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30 in the morning. This is tearing my family into pieces and we want to get as many people involved as we can. Nobody knows where she will turn up, so even if you don't fell like sending it, do it anyway. Because in as in my case, you never care until it happens to you and your family. I would like for those of you who can, to make posters and put them up at your schools, jobs, and local towns if you can. No effort will go unnoticed and everything you can do will be appreciated. Just imagine if one of your family members was missing and you had no clue as to where they were and why they left. Well that's what my family is going through right now.

We'll appreciate your help and keep us in your prayers that God will see us through this terrible tradgedy. Also please put the Charlotte's Channel 3website on there to up awareness of her disappearance. The site is www.wbtv.com. Again thanks for your support and I hope that this all ends in the finding of my nine year old cousin Asha Degree.

I love you all, and God bless.