‘I will never forgive myself’: Erica Parsons’ adoptive father pleads guilty to second-degree murder

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Erica Parsons’ adoptive father has pleaded guilty in one of the most notorious -- and heartbreaking -- stories Channel 9 has reported on over the years.

[TIMELINE: Erica Parsons case]

Sandy Parsons pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder, child abuse, concealment of death and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 33 years minimum to 43 years maximum in prison.

“People may forgive me,” Sandy Parsons said. “I know God has, but I will never forgive myself.”

He was set to go to trial in April.

Sandy Parsons Sandy pleaded guilty in 2019 to second-degree murder, child abuse, concealment of death and obstruction of justice. (WSOC)

Sandy Parsons led deputies to Erica's body in 2016, in a remote area of South Carolina.

Sandy’s wife, Casey, admitted earlier this year that she had abused then murdered Erica.

Erica Parsons was last seen alive in November 2011 in Rowan County, but it wasn’t until 2013 that her adoptive brother reported her missing.

Casey Parsons even went on national television in 2013 declaring her innocence to Dr. Phil. She already took a plea deal in the case and was sentenced to life in prison.

Attorneys argued Sandy Parsons was manipulated and controlled by Casey. They said it was Casey who committed most of the abuse against Erica.

“I turned a blind eye to things Erica was going through and I failed her as a Dad,” Sandy Parsons said.

Locking her in a closet, starving and severely beating the girl, they said one day Casey told Sandy Parsons Erica died and manipulated him into covering it up, burying her body in a South Carolina field and lying to police for years.

“Sandy Parsons role was substantially less than that of Casey Parsons,” attorney Vince Rabil said. “There is absolutely no evidence he intended for her to die.”

Erica Parsons Erica Parsons, 13, was last seen November 2011, but she wasn’t reported missing until July 2013 by her adopted brother. (WSOC)

They asked the judge for leniency in sentencing and rather than the near 80 year sentence he could have received, the judge sentenced him to a maximum of 43 years.

Family members who have been fighting for justice for Erica say this isn’t good enough.

“I am not happy with the second-degree murder charge,” Erica’s biological mother Carolyn Parsons said.

“I don’t think it’s fair,” Erica’s biological sister Brittany Cline said. “I wanted them both to get the death penalty. You took my sister from me.”

The DA did not say much about the murder charge being downgraded to second-degree murder in court. She did say Sandy Parsons helped lead investigators to Erica’s body and without his cooperation, they may never have closed the case.

They said Sandy Parsons is in his 40s now, which means he will be 82 before he is eligible for parole.

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