Investigators search home of missing teen Erica Parsons

By Catherine Bilkey and Torie Wells

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. —Nearly a dozen local, state and federal investigators searched the home and the property of missing Rowan County teenager Erica Parsons all day Wednesday.

Parsons, 15, has been missing for nearly two years.

Eyewitness News was first alerted to the scene where police had the road near the home shut down around 11:15 a.m.

Chopper 9 immediately was dispatched to the scene on Miller Chapel Road near Salisbury, where investigators could be seen loading evidence into a truck.

Investigators took pictures in and around the home of Parsons' adoptive parents.

Police were stopping and turning drivers around if they don't live on the street. They reopened the street late Wednesday night.

Authorities have not said specifically what they are searching for.

Eyewitness News obtained information from neighbors who live near the Parsons home.

One neighbor said she saw some of the Parsons children at the home Wednesday and was told by investigators that Sandy and Casey Parsons, Erica's parents, were also there. Eyewitness News asked the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office about that and were just told that the Sheriff’s Office has released all the information that’s appropriate at this time.

Neighbors said the scene on their street is almost surreal.

"One police officer showed up and next thing you know there was probably 25 or 30 cars there," said Jerry Fairbank. "They are going in the house. They are walking around the house."

Investigators searching Erica Parsons' home

"They started coming around to each of the houses and interviewing us. We spoke with one of the deputies this morning and gave him our written statement," said Patti Miller, another neighbor.

Eyewitness News learned that the Rowan County Sheriff's Office asked the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create an age-progression photo of Erica.

On Wednesday afternoon, neighbors said they hope all of this leads to answers one way or another.

During the search on Wednesday, Eyewitness News went to the Rowan County Courthouse twice to see if the search warrant had been returned. So far nothing has been dropped off there, but Erica Parsons' biological mother was leaving the building.

Carolyn Parsons said in the past that she did not want to talk until she had sat down with investigators, but on Wednesday she would not even comment on that.

She has told Eyewitness News before that she loves her daughter and wants her found safe.

On Wednesday, Eyewitness News also tried to talk to the attorney for Erica's adoptive family.

Eyewitness News was told he was out at lunch and then gone for the day.

Deputies said James Parsons, Erica's stepbrother, was the last known person to see her alive in November of 2011.

Then two weeks ago, James contacted police about her disappearance.

Erica is 15 years old and stands 4 feet 5 inches tall, weighing less than 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.