Bonus: Asha Degree Update

All witnesses purchase of interest, and suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Welcome to Primetime Crime. I'm your host, Kylie. Let's talk right now in true crime, and then together we are going to work on warming up some cold cases. Let's go. Hello, Twisted Humans. Do you find yourself wanting to know more about the latest murder, conspiracy, cult, or haunting. Than this is the podcast for you. In nineteen fifty two, there was a record high of UFOs reported fifteen hundred sightings. There has been evidence of human sacrifice, double worship, and it is haunted by more spirits than can be counted. A family of two adults and two kids reportedly saw a giant flying thing with glowing red eyes. And meanwhile, the family's nanny that helped Veronica to care for her and Lucien's children, was found bludgeoned to death in. The basement of their family hope. I'm Alicia and I'm Sierra and this is twisted and uncorked. Hey, guys, welcome to another episode of Primetime Crime. It's Kylie. I am coming your way today with this bonus episode of something we so need to talk about, which is all of the Asia degree developments that have been occurring over the last two weeks. I wanted to kind of give it a little bit of time, review all of the documents, and then come out and talk about it, because there's a lot of information that has broken over the last two weeks, and initially it was all just speculation and we didn't even know if the searches that were happening in Shelby were related to Asia. Of course, everyone thought they were and wanted them to be, of course, because we want resolution in Asia's case so badly. So when it officially came out that the searches that were happening in Shelby across multiple different locations were related to Asia, everybody was super intrigued and wanted to note everything about everything, And there was a lot of online speculation, some of which has been proven to not be true, and some of which once they released the search warrant affidavits were kind of proven to be true. So we're going to kind of go through the documents. We're going to talk about the people involved in the documents, because this evidence that is in these documents is not coming out of nowhere, and it also will show you how familial DNA and genetic genealogy is being used in these cold cases to help solve these cold cases. Decades down the line. We're a twenty four year since Asia disappeared that night, and while we don't really have a lot of answer still as to what exactly happened, I think that these documents are kind of painting a picture of what potentially could have happened and maybe potentially who is involved allegedly. So we are going to talk about all of that. I do want to preface everything I say, these are legal documents that I am reading from. I am not in any way insinuating anything about anyone's guilt or anyone's innocence. But I am going to be reading the documents as they are written, and we're going to kind of talk about it after that, because at the end of the day, everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. So let's start off with what initially happened. There was search warrants that were being completed on these different properties in Shelby, North Carolina, not far from where a show went missing, and one of the main things that was brought to light is that there was a screen car that was brought out from one of these properties, and it had a striking resemblance to the car that was seen by two different motorists the night that a show went missing, and it is the car that they described that they asia being pulled into, or at least it was very very similar, maybe not same model, but definitely same color. And it was an older model vehicle. So obviously this vehicle had been somewhere for twenty four years. So that got everybody speculating who did this car belong to? Who do these properties belong to? And it came out that the property was in the name of a man named Roy Deadman, and Roy is married to a woman named Connie. Now I talked about how. Roy hired a lawyer, and that lawyer spoke out Friday before they released the search warrant affidavits, and he said, as follows next week, I believe the search warn't executed at six twenty one Cherryville Road will be made public. I don't know when that will happen, but it's likely to happen. And when you read the affidavit, it may be more clear to you why there was a search at. Six twenty one and some other locations. I think there will also be information in the search warrant that, sadly will link a person to the circumstances of Asha's disappearance that is no longer living. And it is very possible, not saying that the person that is named in the search warrant had anything to do with her disappearance, because I don't know any more than you do, or any more than the sheriff Department or FBI does, But it is very possible that the person who is no longer here has the answer to what happened to Asha, and the answer may never be known. But the connection to Roy Lee Deadmond and his family is tenuous at best. And Rory has maintained and his family has maintained and will continue to maintain, that they're not involved with Asha's disappearance. I have no information that would help law enforcement figure out what happened to her. He goes on to say, this morning, I gave Sheriff Norman information concerning Roy Deadman that is consistent with Roy's denial of having knowledge about what happened to Ashia degree I'm not going to go into what that information is. I will let Sheriff Norman if he chooses to release that information to you, but it is not appropriate for information about an ongoing investigation to be spread. Then he asked for the public not to continue to speculate, and then he said, don't make statements that somehow this crime, if there was a crime, has been solved, because it has not been. There is a tremendous amount of investigation still ongoing, and I think the best course is for me going forward and for Roy Lee Deadman and his family is to let law enforcement do their job. So he's basically saying, there's evidence that led them to this property that is owned by Roy Deadman, but it's this other person that's going to be named in the search word affidavit that is probably the person that had something. To do with acious disappearance. Because how convenient that the person who we're going to talk about here in a little bit is no longer here to defend themselves. And it's really easy to blame this disappearance on a dead man that can't speak for himself. But that is just my personal opinion. Sheriff Alan Norman then put a press release out later that day and he said the joint investigation into the disappearances of nine year old as Degree continues. The search warrants executed last week by the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office and our state and federal partners were returned and are now public record. We are not providing copies of the warrants per North Carolina record policies. Copies can be picked up by journalists at the courthouse during regular business hours. We continue to follow evidence to locate Asia and determine what happened to her in the early morning hours of February fourteenth of two thousand, after she walked away from her home. At this time, no remains have been recovered and there's no one arrested. If you have information directly related to our investigation, called the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at seven oh four four four four seven five six. I know our community is anxious to learn about every aspect of our ongoing investigation. While we appreciate your support, I urge you to put yourself in the place of Asia's family, who have for twenty four years have entrusted law enforcement to do everything possible to find her. Please do not spread or share rumors on social media. Official information will be released by my office when appropriate. Pray for Asha, her family and the community. Okay, We're now going to get in to some of the search warrant affidavits. So the information received during the course of this investigation is discussed in this affidavit and is believed to be true and accurate by Sergeant Derek Tony of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. One. On February fourteenth, two thousand, nine year old Asia Jakila Degree went missing from her home in Shelby, North Carolina. Asia Degree was seen by drivers walking along North Carolina Highway eighteen in Shelby, North Carolina. Asia Degree was seen being pulled into a nineteen seventies green Lincoln Thunderbird or another similar vehicle. Asia Degree has not been seen since that time. The search for a Usha continued for approximately two weeks after she was reported missing, which included searches that utilized tracking and HRD, human remains detections, K nine horses ATVs, dive teams, aerial searches, neighborhood canvases, and interviews which included law enforcement and multiple community members and volunteers. All efforts during the two week search concluded with negative results in finding asia On August second, two thousand and one, evidence belonging to Asia Degree was located in Burke County, North Carolina, on the side of Highway eighteen, approximately twenty one miles north of where Asia Degree was last seen. A construction crew working in the area located the evidence, double bagged in black garbage bags, and turned it over to the Cleveland County Sheriff's office. Numerous items of evidence were collected from the area, some having been identified as belonging to Asia Degree and other items not belonging to Asia Degree. Various items of evidence were sent for analysis. Two of those items returned evidentire results. Genealogical data narrow samples down to two individuals. One sample belonged to a man named Russell Bradley Underhill. Another sample belonged to a hereditary family member of suspects Roy Lee Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman. Number six. Investigators determined Russell Bradley Underhill lived in at least two facilities operated by roy Lee Deadmond and Connie Elliott Deadman during the time Asia Degree was reported as a missing person. Russell Bradley Underhill was discovered to ceasted in Lincoln County in two thousand and four. Number seven. Roy Lee Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman share three children in common identified as Lizzie Grace Deadman Foster, Sarah Gwen Deadman Capeal, and Annalie Victoria Deadman Ramirez. The oldest daughter, Lizzie Grace Deadman Foster, resides in Texas, the middle daughter, Sara Gwy Deadman Caple, resides in Shelby, North Carolina, and the youngest daughter, Anna Lee d Victoria Deadman Ramirez resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Laboratory analysis of collected DNA samples indicated the likelihood that the hairstem sample from Asia degrees Undershirt is a person genetically identical to the DNA standard collected from Annali Victoria Deadman Ramirez. Annali Victoria dead Ramirez is a hereditary family member daughter of suspects Roy Lee Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman. Suspects roy Deadman and spouse Connie Elliott Deadman currently reside at separate residences from one another. Records indicate that Roy Lee Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman owned and resided at the property located at six oh one Cherryville Road when Asia. Degree was discovered missing. Asia Degree has remained missing for twenty four years, without any contact with her family and her friends. There have been no. School records pertaining to Asia Degree since her date of disappearance. February fourteenth, two thousand. Asia degrees book bag and clothing wrapped in two sealed black plastic garbage bags were located along Highway eighteen South near Morgantown, North Carolina, in Burke County, seventeen months after Asia Degree was last seen on February fourteenth, two thousand. Harold, Aquila and O'Brien Degree, which is Asia's parents and brother, have been interviewed numerous times end or polygraphed. All information pertaining to and obtained from Asia's immediate and extended family indicates her family does not know her whereabouts, nor have they had any type of contact with her since her disappearance twenty four years ago. Based on technological advancement, social media platforms and genealogical innovations, information can be attained from anywhere in the world. These breakthrough concepts make communication to and verification of individuals virtually probable. No communication end or verification of Asia Degree or her whereabouts have been made since February fourteenth, two thousand. Based on these findings, investigators believe Asia Degree is a victim of homicide with her body concealed on February fourteenth, two thousand. The ages of the three Deadman children would have been Lizzie Grace Deadman Foster sixteen years of age, Sarah Gwen Deadman Capel fifteen years of age, and Annalie Victoria Deadman Ramirez thirteen years of age. Roy Deadman and Connie Deadman are the two common links between the profiles of Russell Bradley Underhill, Annali Victoria Deadman Ramirez collected and identified from Asia Degrees undershirt and the trash bag which contained Asha. Degrees book bag. Due to the ages of Roy Deadman and Connie Deadman's three daughters in the year two thousand, investigators believe adult assistance from Roy Deadman and Connie Deadman would have been necessary in the execution and or concealment of the crime. On September tenth, twenty twenty four, Sarah Gwen Capele was interviewed at her residence about this case. Sarah Gwen Capele said that she drove an AMC Rambler when she was sixteen, given to her by roy Lee Deadman in nineteen ninety nine. Sarah Gwen Capel was approximately sixteen years old when Asia Degree went missing. As previously stated, an eyewitness stated that they saw Asia Degree being pulled into a nineteen seventies model green in color Lincoln Thunderbird or similar vehicle. The nineteen sixty four amc Rambler has very similar features to a nineteen seventies model Lincoln Thunderbird, which is believed to be the AMC Rambler in dark green color with front end damage. Parked at six oh one Cherryville Road, a nineteen sixty four AMC Rambler with a ven number was registered to roy Lee Deadman with an address of six to oh one Cherryville Road, and then they include this photo of this car parked at six oh one Cherryville Road. On September eleven, twenty twenty four, investigators approached six to oh one Cherryville Road and spoke to the current occupant, Jeffrey Spencer. Mister Spencer has lived at the residence for approximately five years. He stated that there are three rooms that are locked with padlocks that have remained locked since he moved into the residence. He stated that Royley Deadman advised his personal property was in those rooms. Now. Side note, If I am renting a home and someone tells me that I can't access three rooms of a home that I'm renting because their personal belongings are in there, you bet your butt. I'm going to do everything I can to. Get into those rooms because I'm nosy and i want to know everything. So the fact that these rooms have been locked for five years is wild to me. Also on September tenth, twenty twenty four, Laura Deadman was interviewed about this case. Laura Deadman stated that several years ago she saw roy Lee Deadman digging a chesty pole on the property of six' oh. One Cherryville Road. On September eleventh, twenty twenty four, investigators Shoemate observed a six to eight inch dent in the ground where it was obvious that the ground had been disturbed on the property of sixt' oh one Cherryville Road. Investigator Shoemate observe this during his voluntary contact with the current resident of six oh one Cherryville. Road, Jeffrey Spencer. Based upon the applicants training and experience, the applicant knows. When a crime occurs, there is often a transfer of physical evidence. The transfer of. Evidence may occur between the victim and the crime scene, the suspect or suspects and the crime scene end, or between the crime scene. The victim and the suspects. The transfer of evidence may also occur in vehicles or modes of transportation used by a suspect to flee a crime scene after the completion of a violent crime. It is a well known fact that people in general keep personal effects ie. Clothing, newspaper clippings, VHS, CDs, DVDs, memorabilia, photographs, childhood possessions, and such at their regular place of domicile. It is probable and likely saraguin deadman Caple removed personal affects and her evidence pertaining to the investigation of Asia degrees disappearance when she moved residences, and likely personal affects belonging to Asia Degree, along with other forensic endor trace evidence relevant to this investigation will be located at the residence of six oh one Cherryville Road, Shelby. North Carolina. Based on the above mentioned facts, the applicant believes probable cause exists to search the property, vehicles, outbuildings listed in the affidavit. Then it talks about all of the items that were seized. Two silver disposable cameras, film, micro VHS tapes, LG flip phone, journal written by Lizzie Deadman, journals written by Annalie Deadman, DSS complaint documents, transport logs, green and color amc rambler documents that contained Russell Underhill's name, black trash bags, cartheart genes, children's clothing, silver cell phone, and a twenty two caliber rifle. So I do want to touch on one thing in the documents. It talks about how one of the daughters was. A essentially using the vehicle, and she used the vehicle to transport patients to and from a hospital called Broughton Hospital in Morgantown. And Broughton Hospital in Morgantown was a psychiatric facility and she would use this vehicle to transport patients from there to and from the Northbrook Rest Home and or Brighton Hospital. So could this have been where Russell Underhood's DNA came into play? Potentially? Maybe possibly, because they. Did say that Highway eighteen is the most logical route to take to and from Northbrook Rest Home, which was the nursing home facility. That was owned by Connie and Roy Deadman. The Sirchworn affidavit goes on to say that the items to be seized include DNA evidence, clothing, natural or man made fibers, any weapon that could constitute and unspecified homicide, handwritten documents and diaries, vehicle and any property to show ownership or domain of the property. Any property to show identification or any and all evidence that may relate to the unspecified homicide. Electronic storage devices such as phones, cameras, memory cards, USB devices, VHS recorder, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, point and shoot cameras, and er newspaper clippings that may hold evidence of the incident or person or persons involved. Any items or articles that could be reasonably be related to this case and considered of evidentiary value. Any in all items that may be related to the disappearance and unspecified homicide of acient degree. Any and all items believed or found to be latent evidence that may lead to the identification of the involved offender or offenders and or provide possible evidence of the crime. Any and all documentation to include the search and seizure of electronic devices, including but not limited to, phones, computers, or any discovered correspondence that provides or may show evidence of a crime that occurred or why the crime occurred, possible suspects and or offender's motive, etc. Any and all items included, but not limited to physical or latent evidence found on what can be recovered from clothing or the body of ancient degree that may maybe or provide evidence of the crime that occurred or assist in the identification of potential suspects or offenders. Any objects, articles, or items determined to be relevant, pertinent, or associated with this investigation. Any and all records pertaining to Russell Bradley Underhill. Any and all records pertaining to the rental, end or ownership of Cleveland Healthcare and Northbrook Rest Home. Those were both facilities that the Deadman's owned. Any and all records to include photographs identifying or pertaining to residences and our patients that may have resided at the properties owned by Roy Le Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman. Any and all children's clothing and shoes deem relevant to the investigation. On May twenty third, twenty twenty three, investigators conducted an interview of an employee at Cleveland County Social Services. The employee informed investigators that they were employed at DSS in two thousand and were able to confirm Underhill's residency in Cleveland health Care during a number of visits to the facility in January of two thousand. The employee recalled Roy Deadman being involved in Underhill's care in February of two thousand and informed investigators that they were told Roy Lee Deadman would send his sixteen to seventeen year old daughter, Lizzie Grace Deadman Foster, to transport patients in an unreliable vehicle to and from Browton Hospital in Morgantown, North Carolina. I talked about that earlier. Investigators obtained Underhill's medical records. Documentation dated June fourth, nineteen ninety nine noted Connie Elliott Deadman as admin for Cleveland Healthcare and documented directions on medication administered for Underhill. Medical records verified Underhill resided in Cleveland Healthcare on January twenty fourth, two thousand, and June nineteenth, two thousand. Further medical records indicated Underhill's school resource person listed as roy Lee Deadman dated June nineteenth, two thousand. A document from Gaston, Lincoln Area Mental Health Screen Forum documented Underhill's residence as. Cleveland Healthcare dated June nineteenth, two thousand. A Gaston Cleveland Lincoln Medical Healthcare Services Consent Forum documented Roy Lee Deadman as Underhill's emergency contact data unknown. An additional medical record indicated roy Lee Deadman as underhills emergency contact dated June eighteenth, year unknown. Investigators discovered upon the closure of Cleveland Healthcare in two thousand and two, roy Ley Deadman and Connie Elliott Deadman opened and assisted living facility under the name Northbrook Rest Home located in Vale, North Carolina. Prior to his death in two thousand and four, Underhill was a resident of the Northbrook Rest Home. Northbrook Rest Home has been under control of roy and Connie Deadman since January one of nineteen eighty five. From the property five to one six Hawthorn Lane in Shelby, North Carolina. They seized a red Samsung Galaxy tablet, IWO flash drive containing photos, Dell computer, Levano laptop, external hard drive, digital camera, floppy disk, assorted CDs, and assorted SD cards, and like I said, all of these properties are belonging to Roy Deadman. So let's get back to Russell Underhill. So I want to say, this man is very intriguing to me. He obviously lived in these different various nursing facilities and was close in some way, shape or form with Roy and Connie Deadman, given the fact that Roy was listed as his emergency contact. Now I told you that Russell Underhill. Was found dead in two thousand and four, so I do want to read the narrative summary of circumstances surrounding his death. This case involves a fifty six year old white male. Subject was last seen on twelve twenty five at approximately six pm. Subject lived in an apartment and had several caregivers and I think it says counselors that kept in contact with subject due to past substance abuse problems. Subject was also a former Vietnam veteran. Subject caregivers reported that subject had been threatened by another client in previous days said he was going to kill him. Subject was found slumped over his couch. Large amount of blood was noted from nose. No other injuries were noted except for old scars from his Vietnam War injuries. Police did not find any evidence of homicide or unusual circumstances, and then it is basically signed by this individual. So interesting. During the autopsy, it was found that Russell had a lot of different things going on. He had some. Heart disease, he had COPD, he had a couple of cysts. So they said that this was basically a natural cause of death for Russell Underhill. Okay, so that is it for the documents. There are pages and pages and pages of documents. I pulled out what I think was important and relevant to the story. So one thing I think is super important to look at in all of these documents is that in the documents, Roy and Connie Deadman. Are listed as suspects. So you know that investigators probably have a heck of a lot more to go off of than what they have released to us. And I do want to say I think they're doing a really good job at preserving the evidence and only releasing to us what they can at the moment, because I am sure they are doing everything they can to try to figure out what the. Next steps are going to be in this case. So let's talk about the transfer. DNA is it possible that the belongings that were found with Ashaw's belongings that have Russell's DNA and one of the daughter's DNA on it is transferre DNA a hundred percent because the one daughter used the vehicle that was obviously a family vehicle at some point in time to transfer patients back and forth. So could Russell have been one of those patients. Could he have been transported to and from at a certain point in time and his DNA ended up in that bag with acious belongings, Very very possible. And of course it is so easy to say that Russell is the guilty party because he is not here to defend himself and say what he knows. Or doesn't know. We saw this in the Long Island. Serial killer case where his daughter and wife's DNA was found on some of these victims because of transfer DNA. Long Island serial killer Rex Hureerman would bring the victims to the house that he lived in with his family and murder and sexually assault these victims and dump their bodies. Of course, they're going to have DNA on them from the people that lived in that home. It makes total, incomplete sense, and I think you could argue the same here, regardless of what we're looking at, DNA doesn't lie, and these two pieces of DNA evidence that were found with Asha's belongings tie back to Roy and Connie Deadman and there is no other way to slice it if you tried. So that is all of the updates on the Asia degree story. I'm sure there is going to be. More that is going to be coming out in the coming weeks, because, like I said, investigators are deep in this now and they are investigating every bit of evidence that they took from all of the properties. And Roy is now eighty years old, So could somebody have lived with this twenty four year old secret of Asia being taken for whatever reason? We still don't know the circumstances of why she was taken. We still don't know the circumstances of why she was walking on that road that night by herself. We still don't know. I don't know if we're ever going to know why she was out, but I think it's one of those things we have to kind of talk about to try to figure out how we got here and how the Deadmans came into play in everything. I do think there's going to be a lot more that's going to come out, and I will be sure to keep you guys updated when that does happen, because this is a lot of information that has come out in the last two weeks on a case that was seemingly cold and did not make any sense whatsoever. It still doesn't make any sense, but at least we have a little bit of direction, and we have a couple of names, and I think that's really really important, And investigators are leaning towards the fact that Asha was killed and her body was concealed, So the next step is figuring out where her remains are so we can get to the bottom of what happened. So I will continue to keep you guys updated. On any Asia degree updates and anything that goes on with Roy and Connie, anything about any of it, I will be sure to bring it to you in an emergency episode. But I thank you guys. For listening, and at the end of the day, we just want to get justice for Asia. Her family has suffered twenty four years of not knowing where their sister is, where their daughter is, and they have also been highly scrutinized in the public. The court of public. Opinion has scrutinized them and even discounted their stories of Asha leaving the home on her own and blaming them for it, and. It's obvious that that is not what happened here. Asha did leave the home that night, we do not know why, and she came across somebody who had bad intentions for her, i e. Dead Men family, potentially, maybe possibly allegedly in my opinion. We will continue to unpack this as we get more but but that is where we're at for now, and I will see you guys on Friday for a brand new Unsolved Case. Thanks for joining this little bonus. Episode today and I hope you guys have a fantastic week ahead. I will see you on Friday.