SHELBY, NC (WBTV) – The attorney for a man whose Cleveland County home was raided by the FBI this week held a press conference Friday afternoon in response to an important police update.

On Friday, September 13, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that search warrants executed earlier this week for a property on Cherryville Road in Shelby are connected to the disappearance of Asha Degree. The then 9-year-old girl disappeared from her home in February 2000 and has not been seen since.

Members of the FBI, State Bureau of Investigation and sheriff’s office searched at least two homes and the yard on a huge property in the area. A suspected homeowner, Roy Lee Dedmon, has come forward and claimed to have nothing to do with Degree’s disappearance.

Dedmon’s attorney, David Teddy, was scheduled to hold a press conference at 5:30 p.m. Friday. This live stream has ended.

According to a press release from Teddy, Dedmon also denied having any “information regarding the disappearance of Asha Degree.”

Search warrants for the property, which reportedly includes Dedmon’s home, were obtained “due to evidence directly related to Asha’s disappearance,” the sheriff’s office said Friday. It was not immediately clear what investigators were looking for at the property.

Authorities confirmed Friday that they had not found any human remains during their search. Officials did not provide details on what they found in the homes but said they had taken “several items of interest” for examination.

During their searches on Tuesday, September 10, and Wednesday, September 11, officers and agents could be seen carrying boxes off the property. On Wednesday, an older green vehicle was towed from a home on the property.

The towed vehicle attracted particular interest because it resembled a vehicle sought in connection with Degree’s disappearance. Authorities believe Degree got into a green 1970s car on the night of her disappearance.

In 2016, the FBI announced it was looking for a green 1970s Ford Thunderbird or Lincoln Mark IV. The vehicle seized from the Cleveland County property on Wednesday was not exactly identical to those cars, but was similar to them.

—> More: Car towed from Cleveland County property during FBI search

Authorities did not say what else they found or took from the Cleveland County property during their search. It was not immediately clear how the search was related to Degree’s case.

Several officers from both agencies were at the property on Tuesday and Wednesday, and specially trained police dogs were deployed to search the property, officials said.

The search was completed on Wednesday evening.

About Asha Degrees Case

The FBI, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating Degree’s disappearance for more than two decades. Degree’s family recently said they believe the girl – who would now be in her early 30s – is still alive.

—> From February: “Nobody has forgotten”: The search for Asha Degree continues 24 years after her disappearance

The state, local and federal law enforcement agencies involved have a team dedicated to finding Degree. A $45,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the location of Degree.

Below is a time-lapse of what Degree might look like when he’s older.

The FBI’s Charlotte office previously told WBTV that it had identified a number of people over the years who were considered “persons of interest” in the case for various reasons. No further details were provided.

Anyone with information can contact the FBI office in Charlotte at 704-672-6100.

—> Click here to view a timeline of events surrounding Degree’s disappearance.

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