By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Sandy Parsons, the adoptive father of missing teen Erica Lynn Parsons, was visibly upset and crying after he led investigators to her remains in a remote South Carolina area, said Chesterfield County Sheriff Jay Brooks.

Brooks said Sandy Parsons was escorted by guards from the Bureau of Prisons, pointed to an area along a dirt road, led them to Erica’s remains and came back upset. Once Parsons was whisked away in a car, an SBI cadaver dog was brought in, Brooks said.

Sheriff Brooks said the cadaver dog alerted on the area Sandy Parsons had shown them.

“The forensic team was here from FBI, SBI and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and started excavating the site and about an hour later found the first piece of evidence,” Brooks said.

He said investigators finished about 10 hours later.

Brooks said prior to seeing Sandy Parsons on Tuesday, he had no idea who the investigation concerned.

“We were contacted a week or so ago by SBI and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office about the possibility of a body buried in our county. I didn’t have any idea who it was,” he said.

Brooks described the area where Erica’s remains were found as remote. He said it appeared there was an old farm on the property, which was surrounded by pine trees. He said the area was just off a small dirt road.

“It looked like an old home site or a barn had collapsed there. There are no houses,” he said.

He added the area has been completely grown over and looked as if nothing had been farmed there or maintained in years.

Brooks said he believes the property belonged to a relative of Sandy Parsons’.

“From what I understand, this property was owned by someone kin to him. I don’t know who. He was familiar with this property. He remembered coming here as a boy,” Brooks said.

In a statement to the Post, Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said they are thankful Erica has been located and her body recovered.

“While this was not the outcome anyone had desired, we hope that it does provide some sense of closure for Erica’s family members, now that she has been found and can have a proper burial,” Cook said.

She went on to say the District Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office throughout the investigation.

“Due to the N.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, our office cannot make any comments concerning the specifics of the investigation,” she said.

Erica Parsons was last seen five years ago, but reported missing three years ago by her adoptive brother James “Jamie” Parsons.

He immediately pointed the finger at his father and mother, Sandy and Casey. The couple have denied any wrongdoing in Erica’s disappearance. They have not been charged in her death.

In 2014, the Parsonses were charged in a 76-count indictment for various charges ranging from mail fraud, tax fraud and identity theft. They are currently serving prison sentences. In 2015, Casey accepted a plea agreement and is serving 10 years. Sandy is serving eight years after being found guilty on part of the indictment.

The couple maintained that Erica was allowed to live with her paternal biological grandmother Irene “Nan” Goodman. Rowan County authorities have always said there was no Irene Goodman. Erica’s biological mother, Carolyn Parsons, and other family members have also said Irene Goodman did not exist.

Jamie Parsons testified in federal court that his parents regularly abused Erica and so did he, until he turned 16. All of the children were encouraged to abuse Erica. The Parsonses also have four other biological children —  Sandy Jr., Brooklyn, Sadie and Toby.

See more in Saturday’s Post.