The Michigan mother who hired Casey Parsons to be a surrogate says she lived a nightmare after Casey tried to keep the unborn baby she was carrying.
Casey Parsons and her husband, Sandy, have been the subject of an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of their adopted daughter, Erica Lynn Parsons, who has been missing for two years.
Erica, 15, was reported missing July 30 by the Parsonses’ biological son, James, who told Rowan investigators he’d not seen his sister since November 2011.
The couple say they let then 13-year-old Erica go to live with a woman they knew as her biological grandmother, Irene “Nan” Goodman.
Investigators and other family members have said Goodman does not exist.
The Post made several attempts to speak with Amy and Vern Miller in August before the Parsonses’ interview on the Dr. Phil show. Miller appeared on the show and described for Dr. Phil McGraw how she met Casey and her months of distress when she learned Casey was trying to keep her unborn baby. Since hearing further news accounts of Casey’s interactions with Erica’s biological mother, Carolyn Parsons, Miller said she decided to come forward.
Miller said she feels Carolyn is not at fault in this situation. She also wants to help spread the word about the Casey Parsons she knew.
In 2001, Amy Miller and her husband, Vern, were looking online for someone to become a surrogate for them and found Casey Parsons.
When the couple met Casey, she and her husband, Sandy, had four children — Sandy Jr., James, Brooklyn and Erica, whom the Millers never met.
The Millers didn’t go through the process alone. They had a surrogate coordinator, who helped them as Casey underwent interviews, physical exams and psychiatric evaluations.
“Every single thing was perfect. Everyone who met her loved her. There was not one thing about her that would raise a red flag. She knew exactly what to say,” Miller recalled.
Miller said Casey was as “sweet” and “wholesome” as one could imagine.
Miller’s opinion of Casey has since changed.
“She was the best manipulator ever. I did not have one red flag,” she said.
When Casey became pregnant, the Millers were excited, but at six weeks they received devastating news — that Casey had miscarried.
“She called me and said ‘I’m bleeding. I think I miscarried,’ ” Miller said.
Casey seemed genuinely upset and so Miller gave her a day to rest, but was unable to reach Casey afterward.
When Casey finally returned Miller’s call, Casey said she and her family needed to get away and were taking a trip to the beach.
When Amy suggested Casey go to a clinic to be examined, Casey refused.
The Millers tried multiple times to reach Casey. Casey accused Amy of harassment.
“I had nightmares. I knew something wasn’t right. I was obsessed with it. I can’t tell you how traumatic this thing was for me,” she said.
Amy refused to believe what Casey had told her and insisted that Michigan authorities conduct an investigation.
Amy searched for nearly six months to locate Casey, who had changed her telephone number and deactivated her email.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said. “My family thought I was losing my mind,”
She was contacted via the surrogate site where she found Casey by someone who claimed to have news regarding her unborn baby. Miller later discovered the anonymous person who had contacted her was Robin Ashley, Casey’s sister.
Miller said Ashley told her Casey had been telling family that the couple changed their minds and Casey would keep the baby instead.
Miller said she knew in her heart that her baby had not died.
The Michigan couple learned Casey and Sandy were taking money from two other couples who wanted the unborn baby.
Miller said she and her husband sent a letter threatening legal action, and the Parsonses relented. She said Casey Parsons wrote a letter of apology.
When the Millers arrived in Rowan County, the Parsonses tried to claim Miller’s baby as their own.
Miller said contrary to what Casey told Dr. Phil, Miller and her husband did not want the baby aborted. Casey told the talk show host the couple wanted a boy and they believed Casey was carrying a girl.
Miller had children from a previous marriage, one of whom was a daughter. She was widowed at age 33. She said she and her husband, Vern, didn’t care if they had a girl or boy.
Casey eventually admitted the baby she was carrying belonged to the Millers. Amy stayed in Rowan County for three weeks before Casey went into labor.
Miller was there during the child’s birth and was able to take the baby boy home with her.
Today, her son is an “amazing” 11-year-old who is active in sports.
“My heart breaks for Carolyn because she’s searching for her daughter like I did for my son,” Miller said.
She said she respects Carolyn’s decision to give Erica up for adoption.
“I respect that because they know they can’t give them the life they deserve,” Miller said.
Miller said she’s even had her own guilt for allowing Casey to carry her child.
She hopes that telling her story will shed light on the case and possibly lead to Erica being found.
Anyone with information about Erica Lynn Parsons is asked to contact Lt. Chad Moose at 704-216-8687 or investigator Clint Mauldin at 704-216-8710.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.

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