Sheriff: Erica Parsons’ adoptive parents will be charged with her murder

ROWAN COUNTY, NC (WSOC) — Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten announced Tuesday morning that Casey and Sandy Parsons, the adoptive parents of Erica Parsons, will be charged with murder in the death of Erica, nearly five years after the girl was reported missing.

A Rowan County grand jury indicted Casey and Sandy on charges of first-degree murder, felony child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury, felony concealment of death, and felony obstruction of justice, Auten said.

[READ: INDICTMENTS AGAINST CASEY PARSONS]

[READ: INDICTMENTS AGAINST SANDY PARSONS]

Last Saturday would have been Erica’s 20th birthday.

Erica’s case has haunted the community since 2013, and Auten expressed pride when announcing authorities had gotten the break they had been waiting for that allowed murder charges to be brought forth.

“This case has weighed on us pretty heavy,” the sheriff said during a news conference. “We just did not want to leave a little girl out there. We wanted to bring her home.”

Erica’s adopted brother reported her missing in July 2013, but investigators discovered the Rowan County girl had not been seen since 2011.