Eyewitness News talks one-on-one with Dr. Phil about the Parsons

By Natalie Pasquarella

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —It has now been more than two weeks since Erica Parsons was reported missing, but two years since anyone has seen her, including her adoptive parents who flew to Hollywood last week to talk to Dr. Phil.

"Did you ask them why, two years later, they're suddenly concerned about their daughter? Why not reach out sooner?" asked Eyewitness News.

"I don't think they were here out of concern for their daughter, quite frankly. I think they were here to clear their name, because they say our daughter didn't disappear two years ago, she is not disappeared. She is with her grandmother," he said.

Dr. Phil said Casey and Sandy Parsons seemed like a down-to-earth couple, but their instincts struck him as odd.

"This is where it got strange for me, not as Dr. Phil, but as daddy Phil, as a parent. I mean when your child leaves for three weeks, and a month goes by, two months, three months, four months, six months, and you've not seen or heard from them, you don't just do anything," said Dr. Phil.

He said he was concerned that Erica's father did not speak out much.

"I found the father to be completely unresponsive. All he wanted to say, is 'not my job, I leave it up completely to her. 'I found that to be a very unusual situation," said Dr. Phil.

He said he did offer the Parsons a polygraph test and they took it. As for the results, that will air later this week.

Eyewitness News asked if he thought they were truthful.

"Natalie, it is so non-common-sensical to me that I have a hard time accepting that a rational person would offer this as an explanation," he said.

Dr. Phil is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to Erica Parsons. He's encouraging anyone with info to call the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

Casey and Sandy Parsons will appear on a two-part special on "Dr. Phil" this week that will air on Channel 9 Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m., followed by Eyewitness News at 5 p.m.