ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. -- Casey Parsons, the adoptive mother of Erica Parsons, has pleaded guilty to her murder. This is part of a plea agreement and she will spend life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Previous reports from earlier this year and 2018:
- Trial Date Set for Casey Parsons, No Date Yet for Sandy Parsons
- DA to seek death penalty against Sandy Parsons for the death of Erica Parsons
- DA to seek death penalty against adoptive mother of Erica Parsons
- Sandy, Casey Parsons to be charged with first degree murder in death of Erica Parsons
When we reported on this last, both Casey and Sandy Parsons (her adoptive father) appeared in court and a trial date for April 6, 2020 was set for Casey. A date had not been set for Sandy.
Friday, the state addressed the court and provided evidence collected throughout the investigation, including autopsy results, children's accounts of the crimes made, and much more.
Carolyn Parsons, the biological mother of Erica Parsons, also addressed the court and said she will never view family or trust the same again.
Addressing the court, Casey Parsons read a statement which said in part, "God gave me a precious gift, a baby girl, Erica. He entrusted me to take care of her and I failed him and I failed Erica. I failed her horribly. My parents and my sister reached out to me numerous times to help me. Numerous. I pushed them back. I would lie to them constantly."
Erica was reported missing by her adopted brother in 2013. She would've been 15 years old at the time, but no one had seen her since 2011. Sandy and Casey Parsons claimed the teen went to live with her biological grandmother in Asheville, but investigators said that woman does not exist.
The case took a major turn when investigators began talking with Sandy, who would go on to lead them to Erica's remains. He and Casey would go on to be charged with Erica's murder.