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Parsons' former attorney: Erica's autopsy doesn't add much to evidence

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Scathing details in a newly released autopsy report on Rowan County teenager Erica Parsons have many people calling for justice in her tragic death.

In the report, the medical examiner says it's possible Erica died of blunt force, suffocation or strangulation and classified her cause of death as “homicidal violence of undetermined means.”

[Medical examiner says Erica Parsons died from 'homicidal violence']

[READ: Erica Parsons' Autopsy Report]

Erica was last seen in November 2011 when she was 13 years old, but wasn’t reported missing until July 2013. Her adoptive father, Sandy Parsons, led investigators to her body in some woods in Chesterfield County.

[TIMELINE: Erica Parsons case]

Her adoptive parents told investigators that Erica had gone to Asheville to visit her grandmother, Nan, but authorities later said that Nan did not exist. (WSOCTV.com)

According to the report, Erica was tortured, malnourished and suffered through beatings that were so bad they broke her bones. Several family members reported that the abuse came from Erica’s adoptive parents, Casey and Sandy Parsons.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Erica Parsons]

The two are serving time in federal prison for taking benefits for adoption assistance while Erica was missing, but have never been charged in her death.

The Parsons' former attorney, Carlyle Sherrill, told Channel 9 he believes the district attorney may have a weak case against Casey and Sandy because in the years since Erica's first reported disappearance, the two have never been charged.

"Prior to the autopsy, they didn't have those circumstances to bring a case and the autopsy hasn't added a whole lot to it," Sherrill said.

But Sherrill believe there is too much public pressure for the district attorney not to bring charges.

"The DA is between a rock and a hard place," Sherrill said.

If prosecutors do decided to charge Casey and Sandy Parsons with murder, Sherrill believes the trial will have to moved out of Rowan County.

"Do you think you can find a jury here?" reporter Glenn Counts asked.

"It would be hard to do," Sherrill answered.

"Impossible?" Counts questioned.

"No, no, maybe not, but impossible is not a requirement," Sherrill said.

District Attorney Brandy Cook may not have had a chance to look at the autopsy report because she is in the middle of a murder trial.

Once Cook looks over the evidence and autopsy report, she will meet with investigators to determine the type of criminal charges that will be filed against Casey and Sandy.

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