Death of Erica Parsons

Erica Parsons
Born	Erica Lynn Parsons (1998-02-24)February 24, 1998
Disappeared	December 17, 2011 Salisbury, North Carolina
Status	Deceased
Died	c. December 17, 2011 (2011-12-18) (aged 13)
Body discovered	September 29, 2016
Residence	Salisbury, North Carolina
Nationality	American
Known for	Missing child who was reported missing on July 30, 2013
Parent(s)	Carolyn Parsons and Billy Goodman (biological) Sandy and Casey Parsons (adoptive)

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[2] Parsons was not seen alive since her disappearance in 2011.^[2][3][4]

In 2014, Casey and Sandy Parsons were convicted of fraudulently accepting federal benefits for Erica when she was not living with them.^[5] In September 2016, Sandy Parsons led authorities to Erica's remains. They were found buried in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^[4] No cause of death has been determined, as the medical examiner is still examining the remains.^[3]

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.^[1] The adoption was finalized in 2000. Carolyn Parsons had occasional visits with Erica and last saw her in January 2011.^[6][7] Erica's biological father, Billy Dean Goodman, died of natural causes in 2016.^[8][1]

Erica had developmental delays and was partially deaf. She was homeschooled her entire life.^[1]

The investigation

On July 30, 2013, Erica's then 19-year-old brother Jamie Parsons reported Erica missing after a fight with his parents. He said he had not seen his adoptive sister in almost two years. He told police that Erica had been abused and he believed his parents had killed Erica and buried her in their backyard. He later retracted those statements, although he did later testify to ongoing abuse at his parents trial.^[2][9][7] Jamie testified that the last time he saw Erica was November 19, 2011. She was standing in a corner, which was a common punishment Erica endured. “She didn’t look too good – she looked like a zombie,” he said. “She said she did not feel good. She said she could not breathe too good.” Casey Parsons heard this and told her “to shut the fuck up.” When he awoke the next morning, his parents had left early, which was unusual, and Erica was gone. His parents returned to the home without Erica and he felt something wasn't right, “Mama looked normal," he said. "Daddy looked sick, like he was about to throw up,” James Parsons testified. “Mama went on her recliner with the computer. Daddy, it was a blank stare.” When asked where Erica was, they told Jamie Erica had gone to live with her biological grandmother.^[1]

Police began an investigation into Erica's disappearance. Casey and Sandy Parsons claimed that Erica was with her biological paternal grandmother Irene "Nan" Goodman in Asheville, North Carolina, a woman they claim to have first made contact with in July 2011 after Goodman wanted to forge a relationship with her granddaughter. Investigators have found no evidence of her existence. Billy Goodman's mother, Cloie Goodman, died in 2005 and he claims there is no Irene Goodman in his family.^[10][7] Casey Parsons described Erica and Goodman meeting at a McDonald's in Mooresville, North Carolina on September 2011, followed by several further visits. On one of those visits in December 2011, Casey Parsons said, Erica asked to stay with her grandmother permanently. In February 2012, shortly before Erica's 14th birthday, Casey Parsons said she talked with Erica by telephone for the last time, as further calls reached a disconnected number. Casey told Dr. Phil on his show that she has since lost the phone number she used.^[11][12]

Casey Parsons told Dr. Phil that Erica took none of her personal belongings with her because when she went to stay with Goodman, they had purchased all new clothing for her to wear. When Goodman picked her up, a woman who goes by the nickname "Strawberry" was also there and showed them a stash of clothing with tags in the back of their van. The house where she was reportedly staying had a stable with horses. The Parsons claimed that they also took their other daughter, Brook along with them to take Erica to Asheville. Brook disputed the claim in her own interviews with police, saying she never rode to Asheville to take Erica to live there.^[2][11]

Related federal charges

On July 30, 2014, Sandy and Casey Parsons were arrested in Fayetteville on federal fraud charges. The couple had been receiving monthly checks of $634 for adoption assistance and continued cashing those checks after Erica was no longer living with them. They also continued to claim Erica on their taxes.^{[13][14][15][16]} Casey Parsons pleaded guilty to 15 charges ^[17] while Sandy went to trial. A jury found Sandy Parsons guilty on most charges in October, 2014.^[18] At a sentencing hearing in federal court on February 18, 2015, Jamie Parsons and Robin Ashley testified about abuse Erica received at the hands of the Parsons' family. 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.^[19]

Prosecutors also presented evidence of a series of scams allegedly perpetuated by Casey Parsons. In 2000, Casey was hired to be a surrogate mother. She became pregnant and took a payment of $10,000 for her services. Weeks later, she called the biological mother, Amy Miller, to say that she had miscarried. Miller says she believed Casey was still pregnant as Casey refused to turn over medical records, changed her phone number, and sent her "nasty emails."^[11] Casey then offered to sell the baby to her sister, Robin, who in turn searched for Miller online to tell her Casey was indeed still pregnant and that Casey had taken money from two other couples who wanted to adopt the baby. Miller was able to take custody of her child at birth after getting law enforcement involved. Evidence was also presented of an Ebay scam where Casey accepted money for items listed on Ebay, but never sent the items.^[1][20] Judge Schroeder called Casey a "serial swindler."^[21]

On March 27, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder sentenced Casey Parsons to 10 years and her husband to 8 years for fraud.^[22] 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.^[5] 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.^[10] Casey Parsons was later sent to Federal Correctional Center Tallahassee.^[23]

Both parents have appealed their sentences. The United States Supreme Court rejected Sandy Parsons' appeal in June 2016.^[24]

Abuse allegations

A number of witnesses testified at the Parsons' trial that Erica was routinely abused by the Parsons family, particularly Casey. Casey Parson's sister, Robin Ashley testified that Casey beat Erica and often made her stand in the corner. Photographs of Erica standing in the corner on five different occasions were presented to the court. Ashley testified that she saw bruises and marks on Erica and that Casey relinquished the child to Ashley's custody for several months so that Casey "wouldn't kill her." 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.^[7][25]

Jamie Parsons testified that nearly everyone in the family had abused Erica routinely, something that Casey encouraged. According to Jamie, Casey would often bend Erica's fingers backwards to break them, but deny her medical assistance, instead making homemade casts. Jamie also testified that Erica was forced to live in a closet and would be locked inside for hours at a time and was beaten when she relieved herself in the closet. She was also reportedly forced to eat canned dog food. Jamie testified that Sandy would often get mad and punch Erica on her head.^[25][7] Soon after Erica was reported missing, Sandy and Casey Parsons hired an attorney, believing they were suspects.^[12] Investigators found red stains in the house but have not said what tests showed about them.^[7]

Additional information

Sandy and Casey Parsons appeared on the Dr. Phil show on August 20 and 21.^[11] 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.^[6][26]

On August 27, 2013, Sandy and Casey Parsons moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina.^[6] Their two youngest biological children were removed from the home by the Department of Social Services shortly after the criminal case against them began.^[9][7][27]

On January 30, 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $25,000 reward in addition to the $10,000 offered by the sheriff.^[28] Six months later, the total reward increased to $50,000.^[29]

In September 2015, an Illinois company called K-9 Specialties came to Salisbury after being hired by local residents.^[30]

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 on Blair Hendrick road, between the towns of Pageland and Mount Croghan, South Carolina.^[31][32] 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.^[33]

Recovery

After talking to investigators on numerous occasions, Sandy Parsons led authorities to the remains of Erica Parsons that had been buried in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^[4] No cause of death has been determined, as the medical examiner is still examining the remains. No charges have been filed in the death and no details of a possible plea deal for Sandy have been released.^[3]

See also

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously

References