The family of a missing teen say they can’t answer questions from investigators about her whereabouts because they simply don’t know, their attorney said.
Erica Lynn Parsons, 15, has been missing since Nov. 19, 2011, and was reported missing July 30 by her older brother, James Parsons, 20. James Parsons told law enforcement his sister was either missing or he didn’t know her current location, Sifford said.
Parsons said he’d moved out of his family’s Miller Chapel Road home two months ago.
Casey Parsons, the teen’s mother, referred questions to attorney Carlyle Sherrill of Salisbury. Sherrill said Casey and husband Sandy came to his office after they’d been questioned by law enforcement for two days.
He said the couple felt intimidated by law enforcement and contacted him after their interviews.
Sherrill said the Parsons had some indication that Erica, who they adopted as a baby, was in Asheville.
He confirmed the Parsons do not have any relatives in Asheville, but he said the connection to Asheville was through the girl’s birth mother.
“I’m not saying the natural mother is involved, but they do not have relatives there. The natural mother knew someone in the Asheville area,” Sherrill said.
The family had spoken with the teen by phone, he said, but it had been awhile.
Sherrill said the Parsons told law enforcement everything they knew. He did not go into specifics of what the couple knew.
Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford said the law enforcement agency seeks the truth in any investigation, and conducts them in a professional manner.
“We seek the full cooperation of the parents of any missing child, and normally receive full cooperation from parents who want to find their missing children, without involving an attorney,” Sifford said.
Investigators have spoken with family members, but at this time don’t know Erica’s whereabouts. Erica is described as small for her age. She is Caucasian, 4 feet 5 inches tall, 85-90 pounds, with a thin build. She has brown hair and brown eyes. It’s unknown what type of clothing Erica would be wearing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.