Death of Erica Parsons

Erica Lynn Parsons (born February 24, 1998) was a missing American teenager. Erica had been adopted at birth and raised outside Salisbury, North Carolina by Sandy and Casey Parsons, who were relatives of her biological mother. On July 30, 2013, after a fight with his parents, Erica's brother reported to police that he hadn't seen his sister since November 2011. He told police at the time that his parents had "killed Erica and buried her in our back yard," a statement he later retracted. When questioned by police, Erica's parents claimed that Erica, who was 13 at the time she was last seen, went to live with her biological paternal grandmother, a woman named Irene "Nan" Goodman. Police could find no corroboration to support the existence of Irene Goodman and relatives claim Erica's real grandmother is deceased. Parsons was not seen alive since her disappearance in 2011.In 2014, Casey and Sandy Parsons were convicted of fraudulently accepting federal benefits for Erica when she was not living with them. In September 2016, Sandy Parsons led authorities to Erica's remains. They were found buried in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. No cause of death has been determined, as the medical examiner is still examining the remains. Events prior to the investigation: Erica Parsons was born on February 24, 1998 to Carolyn Parsons. She separated from her husband, Steve, before Erica was born and he was not the biological father. Carolyn, who had three other children, felt she couldn't afford to care for Erica and sought alternative placement for her, stating she didn't want the child to grow up in foster care or homeless shelters as she had. Erica was taken in by Sandy and Casey Parsons, the brother and sister-in-law, respectively, of Carolyn Parson's husband. The adoption was finalized in 2000. Carolyn Parsons had occasional visits with Erica and last saw her in January 2011. Billy Dean Goodman, who apparently died of natural causes at 51 early in 2016, was Erica's biological father. Erica had developmental delays and was partially deaf. She was homeschooled her entire life. The investigation and related events: Jamie Parsons, the son of Sandy and Casey and 19 years old at the time, reported Erica missing July 30, 2013 after a fight with his parents. He said he had not seen his adoptive sister since November 19, 2011, and he claimed Erica was being abused. Later, he told WBTV he had not seen abuse but merely believed abuse was happening because other people were saying it, and he told his parents he was sorry for what he said. The adoptive parents claimed that Erica was with her biological grandmother Irene "Nan" Goodman in Asheville, North Carolina; they claim to have first heard from her in July 2011. Investigators have found no evidence of her, and Billy Goodman said there is no Irene Goodman. It has been determined that the grandmother's name was Cloie Goodman and that she died in 2005. Casey Parsons described Erica and Goodman meeting at a McDonald's in Mooresville, North Carolina in September 2011, followed by further visits. On one of those visits in December 2011, Casey Parsons said, Erica asked to stay with her grandmother permanently in December 2011. In February 2012, shortly before Erica's 14th birthday, Casey Parsons said she talked with Erica by telephone for the last time. Other people claimed Erica had been abused, and no one outside of her immediate family had seen her since the Parsons moved to Millers Chapel Road in April 2011. Soon after Erica was reported missing, Sandy and Casey Parsons hired an attorney, believing they were suspects. Investigators found red stains in the house but have not said what tests showed about them. Sandy and Casey Parsons appeared on the Dr. Phil show on August 20 and 21. Sandy Parsons was considered "strongly deceptive" by an FBI agent after taking a polygraph test, while Casey Parsons claimed to be in too much pain for a polygraph to be accurate. On August 27, 2013, Sandy and Casey Parsons moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Their two youngest biological children were taken away by the Department of Social Services shortly after the case began, and it is believed Erica must be found in order for them to be returned, though the parents visit their children every week. The two children have lived at various times with Robin Ashley, sister to Casey Parsons, and with William Steve Parsons and Janet Parsons, father and stepmother to Sandy Parsons. A custody hearing on September 11, 2014 was expected to determine where the children would live. On January 30, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $25,000 reward in addition to the $10,000 offered by the sheriff. Six months later, the total reward increased to $50,000. Robin Ashley had Erica for eight months but Casey Parsons took her back fearing she would get in trouble for receiving money for a child who was not in her home. Warrants showed the couple continued to cash checks when Erica was not living with them. In September 2015, an Illinois company called K-9 Specialties came to Salisbury after being hired by local residents. On September 29, 2016, after another round of searches and questioning, Sandy Parsons led investigators to Erica's skeletal remains. They were buried in a small grave near the home of Sandy's mother. Before the discovery, detectives recovered items in the search of a shed on property belonging to Sandy, including: a video tape, a hammer, teeth, and school records. Related federal charges: The United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina said that Sandy and Casey Parsons were arrested in Fayetteville on July 30, 2014 for fraud. It is alleged that the adoptive parents received benefits for Erica when Erica did not live with them. The couple were released on bond. Both pleaded not guilty and a trial was set for September 8 but continued until October 14. According to court records, Casey Parsons pleaded guilty to 15 charges; it was likely other charges would be dismissed, and sentencing was scheduled for February 10, 2015. A jury found Sandy Parsons guilty on most charges in October. At a sentencing hearing in federal court on February 18, 2015, Jamie Parsons testified that his parents, and he and the other children, abused Erica physically and psychologically. Robin Ashley also testified about abuse. Federal prosecutor Anand Ramaswamy said there was no record of Erica during the time her adoptive parents illegally accepted money, claiming, "The reason is she’s no longer alive." The hearing was continued until March 27. On March 27, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder sentenced Casey Parsons to 10 years and her husband to 8 years for fraud. Schroeder "believes Casey was the brains behind what happened" and said Erica "endured horrific abuse" and that the fraud distracted investigators from the other problems. The judge also said there was no evidence Erica was living. Federal records showed that as of July, Casey Parsons, whose release date is December 11, 2023, was sent to Carswell Federal Medical Center in Texas. Sandy Parsons, to be released March 14, 2022, was sent to Butner Federal Prison in North Carolina. Casey Parsons was later sent to Federal Correctional Center Tallahassee. Both parents have appealed their sentences. The United States Supreme Court rejected Sandy Parsons' appeal in June 2016. Recovery: After making a "deal" with investigators, Sandy Parsons led authorities to the remains of Erica Parsons that had been buried in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. No cause of death has been determined, as the medical examiner is still examining the remains.