Who is Casey Parsons?

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Casey Parsons is the adoptive mother convicted of abusing and murdering her adoptive teenage daughter, Erica Parsons, in Rowan County.

Casey entered a guilty plea in 2019 to murder, child abuse and obstruction of justice in the girl’s death. She will spend the rest of her life in prison.

[FIND HELP: County-by-county child protection resources]

Casey and her husband, Sandy, adopted Erica as an infant from a relative. They also have five biological children.

Casey became the center of a yearslong investigation after Erica was reported missing by her adoptive brother in 2013. She was last seen in 2011.

Casey and Sandy Parsons told investigators Erica had gone to Asheville to visit her grandmother, Nan, but authorities later said that Nan did not exist.

The pair was arrested in 2014 for accepting federal benefits for Erica after she disappeared.

Erica’s body wasn’t found until 2016 when Sandy led investigators to a wooded area in Chesterfield County. Both Casey and Sandy were charged with her murder.

Investigators said Erica endured years of physical and emotional abuse while in the custody of her adoptive parents.

Before Casey was sentenced to life in prison, she addressed the court. A question she couldn’t answer was why she abused Erica.

“I can’t tell you why. I don’t know why I did the stuff I did and I’m so sorry,” she said.

(WATCH: Casey Parsons brought back to Rowan Co. charged with adoptive daughter’s death)

Casey Parsons brought back to Rowan Co. charged with adoptive daughter's death Casey Parsons brought back to Rowan Co. charged with adoptive daughter's death

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