ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. --  Sandy Parsons is charged with killing his adoptive daughter and the district attorney plans to seek the death penalty.

Heinous, atrocious and cruel are all words prosecutors used to describe the murder charges he faces for the death of his adoptive daughter, Erica Parsons.

Parsons’ former attorney, Carlyle Sherrill, says it’s not surprising the state pushed to make this a capital murder case.

“Will it be hard to do that? It will certainly be hard but not impossible,” he says.

He also says the state will face many challenges

“What the defense does is create doubt. And the autopsy report itself is full of doubt because it doesn’t say specifically how she died,” he says.

Still, the news that even one of the parsons may die for what they are accused of brings comfort to some.

“I think they both deserve the death penalty,” Erica’s biological mother, Carolyn Parsons says. “I think if they don’t get the death penalty they deserve life in prison without parole.”

Carolyn says even knowing justice may soon be served, the heartache may never go away.

“No matter what they’re charged with, no matter if they get the death penalty, it doesn’t bring her back,” she says.

District Attorney Brandy Cook says there is no specific date set for Casey to have a rule 24 hearing at this time. Both Casey and Sandy Parsons are being held in the Rowan County jail without bond.