Adoptive Brother Says Erica Parsons Was Regularly Abused

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 CHARLOTTE, NC — Erica Parsons.  The question all along has been: What happened to the missing Salisbury teen?  Now, we have more details than ever before about Erica’s life before her disappearance.  The disturbing abuse allegations came out during Casey and Sandy Parsons’ sentencing trial for fraud.

Painted as the mastermind behind her adopted daughter, Erica Parsons’, disappearance, Casey Parsons dashed out of court trying to avoid cameras, but couldn’t avoid our questions.

“Did you abuse your adopted daughter?” asked WCCB Charlotte reporter Courtney Francisco.  “No, Robin actually did,” replied Parsons.  “You said your sister did?” asked Francisco.  “Yeah,” answered Parsons.

Her sister, Robin Ashley, testified against Casey and Sandy during the sentencing hearing.  Casey and Sandy face fraud charges for keeping her as a dependent on their taxes and collected government money intended for Erica, even two years after she vanished.  But in court, family described abuse that led prosecutors to add charges of child abuse and failure to report a homicide or death.

Erica’s adopted brother James testified his parents encouraged all their kids to beat Erica for years.  They punched her on the top of the head so much she had a bald spot.  He even admitted to breaking her arm.  He says his mother bent Erica’s fingers backwards until they broke, and that they locked her in a closet and made her eat dog food.  Other family says Casey and Sandy left Erica behind while the couple took their other kids to the beach.

“I think Rowan County Sheriff’s Department should charge her with murder or at least the disappearance,” said Ashley.

The last time Erica’s brother saw her, he says she looked like a zombie; she was ill and told him she couldn’t breathe well.  The next day, he says Casey and Sandy told him they took Erica to her biological grandmother Nan’s house in Asheville, a woman investigators confirm never existed.  James says his mother Casey seemed fine that day, while his dad Sandy was visibly nauseous.

“I don’t know if they intentionally killed her, or if it was from the beatings, I don’t know.  But they killed her,” said Ashley.

One thing is certain: the parents never reported her missing.  The brother did that nearly two years later, telling the judge it took him that long to build up the courage.

The judge says someone knows where Erica is.  The question is who.