In the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day, Asha packed her bookbag and left her family home under the cover of darkness, heavy rain, and wind. She was last seen walking along North Carolina Highway 18. When one of the passing motorists attempted to approach her, she ran into a nearby wooded area and has not been seen since.

Asha Degree, a nine-year-old girl from Shelby, North Carolina, mysteriously disappeared on February 14, 2000. Despite extensive searches and ongoing investigations, her whereabouts remain unknown. Here’s a brief synopsis of the case:

Background: Asha Jaquilla Degree was born on August 5, 1990. She lived with her family in a rural area north of Shelby and was known as a shy, quiet child who performed well in school1

Ranelle Rose Bennett has been missing since June 15th, 2021. Ranelle had met with her mother, Rose Yazzie, to talk about Ranelle coming over to decorate Ranelle's daughter's birthday.

Ranelle's kids lived with their grandma, Rose Yazzie... Rose asked Ranelle if her boyfriend, Kendall Johnson, was in the bedroom... Ranelle said that he was. When Rose left, Ranelle gave her a long, tearful hug, which Rose found unusual. Ranelle never showed up to decorate the house... she also didn't show up for her daughter's birthday.

This was also unusual. Ranelle's daughter kept looking out the window at every car that passed by, expecting her mom to show up, but she never did. Since then, there have been no phone calls, texts, or any other communication from Ranelle.

In 1984, a devastating house fire in New Orleans, Louisiana, claimed the lives of two boys, and their younger sister, Romona.

In 2018 Simona Brown, claimed that Romona was with her outside the house the night of the fire. According to Simona, an elderly couple in a tan Cadillac pulled up and said they would take care of Romona until the fire was out. Romona got in the couple's car and was never seen again.

Welcome to “Simply Missing: The Unheard Voices.” We are your hosts Neil Portman and Andi Clark and in this podcast, we delve into the stories of those who have vanished without a trace, their names fading into obscurity. These are the missing people whose cases don’t make headlines, whose families struggle in silence, and whose communities yearn for answers.

🔍 Why “SimplyMissing”?

When we think of missing persons, certain names immediately come to mind: Gabby Petito, Maura Muray and , Mollie Tibbetts. Their stories dominate news cycles, captivating our collective attention. But what about the countless others? The ones whose faces don’t grace the front pages, whose photos don’t trend on social media?

🌟 Our Mission: Amplify the Overlooked

In each episode, we’ll shine a spotlight on the missing individuals who deserve more than fleeting mentions. We’ll explore cases that haven’t received the attention they merit—especially those involving people of color. Because every life matters, and every disappearance leaves behind a void.

🔎 TheDisparity in Coverage

Did you know that thousands of people of color vanish each year, yet their stories remain buried? The phenomenon known as the “missing White woman syndrome” perpetuates this inequality. When young White women go missing, their narratives dominate headlines, while Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic individuals fade into anonymity.

📰 The Media’s Role

We’ll dissect how media portrayal affects public perception. Why do some victims receive sympathy, while others face judgment? We’ll challenge these biases head-on. And we won’t shy away from discussing the systemic issues that hinder investigations and hinder the allocation of vital resources.

🔗 Join Us on This Journey

“Simply Missing” isn’t just a podcast; it’s a call to action. We invite you to listen, learn, and advocate. Together, we’ll amplify the voices that have been silenced for too long. Subscribe now, and let’s make sure no one remains forgotten

Nevaeh Kingbird, a 15-year-old Native American girl, was last seen in Bemidji, Minnesota, on October 22, 20211. Nevaeh, who hails from the Red Lake Minnesota reservation but was born and raised in Bemidji, is the third oldest of her six siblings. She speaks fluently in Ojibwe, loves spending time with her family, and has artistic talents, including painting, using pastels, drawing, and writing poems1.

Before her disappearance, Nevaeh had been dealing with mental health issues, exacerbated by the loss of two friends to suicide in 2021. Her mother, Teddi Wind, described her as beautiful and protective, having put her in self-defense courses and boxing to keep her safe1. On the day she vanished, Nevaeh was last heard from when she called her mother, slurring her words. When Teddi arrived home, Nevaeh was gone, and despite efforts by law enforcement, she remains missing1.