A home on Cherryville Road is the scene of an investigation that involves not only the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, but also state and federal officials.
Chief Durwin Briscoe said the sheriff’s office is working on a joint operation with federal and state law enforcement agencies.
He did not comment on the nature of the investigation.
According to a post on the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, the FBI and SBI are in the process of executing a court-ordered search warrant.
“Cleveland County officials, the FBI’s Evidence Response Team and SBI agents, including specially trained sniffer dogs, arrived this morning and will likely be on scene for most of the day,” the post said. “The search warrants are not publicly available at this time. More information will be released in due course.”
Rumors circulated on social media that the activity was connected to Asha Degree, a nine-year-old girl who disappeared from her Shelby home on February 14, 2000.
Chanel Degree, a family member, posted on Facebook about the rumors.
“First, I would like to thank everyone who has reached out with genuine concerns,” she wrote. “I normally refrain from posting or commenting on such things, but after seeing the distasteful comments, likes and shares about Asha, I feel compelled to speak out. I am deeply disturbed by the inhumanity some people display in their quest for influence, notoriety or followers on social media – especially when it comes at the expense of a child who has been missing for 24 years.”
I politely ask that if you cannot comment positively to support our family at this time, please refrain from posting. This situation is truly upsetting and spreading misrepresentations is not helpful. Accurate information will be shared in due course. To those praying, please keep my family in mind and pray for them during this difficult time.”
The house at 621 Cherryville Road was swarming with police vehicles from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. SBI agents with dogs stood outside the house, which is barely visible from the street.
Check back later for updates.
