ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — The adoptive parents of Erica Parsons, accused of killing the girl in 2011, were in court Thursday morning as a judge decided when the two would go to trial for murder.
[TIMELINE: Erica Parsons case]
Casey and Sandy Parsons have been charged with first-degree murder. The couple is facing the death penalty in the high-profile case.
(Casey, Erica
and
Sandy Parsons)
The judge decided to tentatively set Casey Parsons' trial for April 2020, while not setting a date yet for Sandy.
Erica’s biological mother Carolyn received the news on Thursday that she’s been waiting to hear.
"That's one step closer to the rest of justice. I will be here for that trial date,” she said.
>> Channel 9 was in the courtroom Thursday. Get instant updates about the hearing by downloading the free WSOC app.
The district attorney had asked the judge to hold the capital murder trial for Casey Parsons this fall, but the defense said that would leave too little time for them to prepare.
The 2020 trial date will be nearly seven years after Erica was reported missing by her adoptive brother.
An autopsy found that 14-year-old Erica was abused and killed and her body was hidden. Her remains were eventually recovered in 2016 in South Carolina, more than 80 miles from where she lived in Salisbury.
Thursday’s hearing was expected to focus on discovery and pretrial motions.
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The judge overseeing the case previously granted defense attorneys more time to review evidence.
Some have complained about the time it’s taken to get to this point.
"This has taken so long, I think everybody is ready for something to be said and done,” Erica’s biological sister Brittany Cline said.
Erica’s mother, though, shared a different perspective.
"I was very angry in the beginning, but I've learned if you sit back, bide your time and wait, you will get results,” Carolyn Parsons said.
She said she wants the case to go to trial once with no mistakes to ensure justice for the little girl who would have turned 21 this month.
"The perfect justice for Erica's birthday,” she said. "I'm very happy. It's not both trials but it's one."
Casey and Sandy Parsons are being represented by special public defenders experienced with death penalty cases.
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