Local

Man who reported Erica Parsons missing testifies at hearing

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The man who first filed a report with authorities that Rowan County teenager Erica Parsons was missing spoke out for the first time to Channel 9.

Jamie Parsons, Erica Parsons' adoptive brother, spoke with Eyewitness News in a one-on-one interview after he testified in a juvenile court hearing about the custody of Casey and Sandy Parsons' two youngest children.

Those children were removed from the Parsons' Salisbury home days after Jamie filed the missing persons report with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office on July 30.

When asked why he contacted authorities, Jamie Parsons said, "All the stories didn't add up, so I went to try and find her myself, and couldn't find her. So I gave it to the cops."

Jamie spent hours testifying in court Tuesday, a decision he said was difficult.

"It is hard, because it's my own parents, but it's the right thing to do, and I'm going to do what's right," Jamie Parsons said. "I do not know what happened to her, where she's at. I'm just hoping she's still alive."

The caseworker who oversaw Erica Parson's annual adoption procedures also testified, along with the DSS worker who first handled Erica's missing persons report.

Erica's adoptive aunt, Tammy Gray, told Channel 9 the custody battle has been difficult on the entire family.

"You just want to stand up and scream when you hear something that isn't true and you just want to stand up and emphasize the stuff that you do know really happened," Gray said of Tuesday's testimony in court.

Gray said her only wish is that the Parsons' youngest children remain in the care of other family members and are not returned to the custody of Casey and Sandy Parsons. Gray said she prays daily for Erica Parson's safe return.

"I'm not going to give up until I know what happened to Erica. I will keep this alive until I know what happened to her," Gray said.

Testimony will resume Wednesday morning

To see more of Channel 9's coverage on Erica Parsons, click here.