Missing since: 14 February 2000 (24 years)
Missing from: Shelby, North Carolina
Classification: Endangered missing
Sex: female
Complexion: dark
D.O.B.: 5 August 1990 (34)
Age at time of disappearance: 9
Height: 4'6"
Weight: 60 lbs
Eyes: brown
Hair: black, her hair might be styled in pigtails
Clothing/ jewelry description: It is possible she was wearing a white night shirt with a teddy bear on it, acid-wash or white jeans, and white size 3 Nike sneakers. She might have been carrying a Tweety Bird purse and a black back pack.
Associated vehicle(s): Dark green early 1970's model Lincoln Mark IV or Ford Thunderbird with rust around the wheel wells.
Distinguishing characteristics: Her name is pronounced "Ay-sha"
Details of Disappearance: Asha and her family resided in an apartment on Oakcrest Street in Shelby, North Carolina in 2000. Asha was last seen inside her home at approximately 2:30 a.m. on 14 February 2000.
Asha's father went to sleep at that time and told authorities his daughter was asleep in her bed when he last checked on her.
Asha shared a room with her older brother, who stated that he heard noises during the early morning hours and assumed his sister was tossing in her sleep.
Their mother went into their room at approximately 6:30 a.m. to wake them up for school and discovered Asha was not in her bed. The family immediately called 911 to request a law enforcement presence. An extensive search of the surrounding area was conducted, with no result.
Possible sightings:
Between the hours of 3:30 and 4:15 a.m. on 14 February 2000, two truck drivers reported to have seen Asha near the intersection of Highway 180 at the time, about a mile from her home.
When one truck driver passed, he thought he should turn around to check on her. By the time he arrived back to where Asha had previously been, she had already left the highway and walked off into the woods in the darkness.
In 2016, it was released by the F.B.I. that Asha may have been sighted getting into a distinctive dark green early 1970's model car on the night she was last seen.
The vehicle, which had rust around the wheel wells, was thought to be a Lincoln Mark IV or a Ford Thunderbird.
credit: F.B.I
Investigators believe Asha left her home of her own free will. She is described as being quiet, shy, and a good student with a happy home life and it is unclear as to why Asha would have wanted to leave her home.
It was mentioned early into the investigation by Asha's mother, Iquilla, that Asha's basketball team had lost their first game of the season the day prior to her disappearance. She said Asha was very upset by the loss, but that her spirits had lifted over the weekend, and she no longer seemed upset by the time she went to bed the evening of the 13th.
Asha's black book bag and black Tweety Bird purse were missing from her room after her disappearance, along with a pair of blue jeans with a red stripe, black sneakers, a long-sleeved white shirt with purple lettering, a red vest with black trim, black overalls with Tweety Bird on them, and a long-sleeved black and white shirt. All the doors to the house were found locked; Asha kept her house key in her book bag.
credit: Charley Project
On February 17, 2000, Asha's pencil, marker, and Mickey Mouse hair bow were discovered on the ground in the doorway of a tool shed at Turner's Upholstery on Highway 18., more than one mile from Asha's home.
These items were found near the path where Asha was last seen walking, early the day of February 14, 2000. Further searching of additional evidence proved fruitless.
Eighteen months after Asha's disappearance in August of 2001, a contractor working off of Highway 18 uncovered Asha's bookbag, which has her name and telephone number on it.
Although her bookbag was found off of Highway 18, it was in the opposite direction of Asha's original travels, more than 26 miles from her family home. It was double wrapped in plastic trash bags. There were also animal bones, and a pair of men's khaki pants found nearby.
inside the bookbag, there was a New Kids on the Block night shirt and a Dr. Seuss library book that did not belong to Asha.
The library book had been checked out from Asha's school, Fallston Elementary School. These two pieces of evidence were not released to the public until 2018 in order to jog people's memories as to whether anyone recognized either item.
After the discovery of Asha's bookbag, Investigators announced that they considered Asha's disappearance as a criminal matter and foul play was suspected.
Asha has not been seen or heard from since the early morning hours of February 14th, 2000.
Investigating Agency:
Cleveland County Sheriff's Department
704-484-4822
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