Sheriff Releases New Details in Erica Parsons Case

SALISBURY, NC – We now know Sandy Parsons did not get a plea deal for showing investigators where his adopted daughter’s remains were buried.

Family members last saw Erica Parsons alive in 2011 but didn’t report her missing until 2013.

Her body was found nearly a week ago in a shallow grave in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

“It’s just heart wrenching and it’s just tearing me apart,” says Erica’s biological aunt Teresa Goodman.

She says while she’s relieved Erica is no longer suffering, she can’t help but think about the pain Erica suffered, allegedly in the home of her adopted parents Casey and Sandy Parsons.

Goodman says she wants to raise awareness about child abuse to keep this from happening again.

“So many people supposedly knowing about it. Something should have been done before it come to this point, you know,” Goodman says.

Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten spoke for the first time Monday about what led them to Erica’s remains last week.

He says investigators established “a line of communication” in July with Sandy Parsons, who is serving time at Bunter Federal Prison on fraud charges.

He led them to her grave. Sheriff Auten talked about how difficult it was.

“I was there at the grave side when her body was recovered, and I’ll tell you some pretty tough officers had a pretty tough time,” Auten explains.

The Sheriff is waiting to hear from the medical examiner before determining what charges may be filed.