Casey Parsons, the adoptive mother of missing teenager Erica Lynn Parsons says the family is happy that Erica’s picture is posted in this week’s coupon circular.
Erica, 15, has been missing since November 2011, but was reported by her adoptive brother, James, in July. Casey and her husband, Sandy, have said they let the teen live with her biological grandmother, Irene Goodman. The couple have since said they believe they’ve been duped and Goodman was not who she claimed.
A picture of Erica is featured on the back of the Red Plum coupon circular, which was released Sunday, along with an age-progressed photo of the teen.
The circular routinely includes pictures of children from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a number for readers to call if they’ve seen the children.
Casey Parsons told a Post reporter the family was aware Erica’s picture would likely be featured.
“I think that it’s wonderful,” she said.
Parsons said people seem to think Erica is dead and she hopes this posting will help them realize she’s missing.
Casey said she and husband, Sandy, have been pushing for Erica’s picture to be placed on billboards, coupon circulars and other places.
She said they contacted the Center for Missing and Exploited Children to see if Erica’s picture could be included in a circular.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has partnered for more than 30 years with Michigan-based marketing company, Valassis, to place the photos of missing children in homes across the nation.
The picture of Erica Parsons was displayed on the back of Sunday’s Red Plum coupon insert. Red Plum is just one of the media portfolios of the marketing company. Valassis is able to target color photos in the areas that children may have been last seen.
The “Have You Seen Me?” photo campaign, according to the company, reaches more than 100 million households across the nation and features the names and faces of missing children.
It is not clear how Erica Parsons’ picture was chosen to be featured this week. Representatives with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were not immediately available for interviews regarding this matter, a spokesperson said.
Casey Parsons also said she believes Erica is “out there” and said the reason she’s not come forward may have to do with her son James.
“Maybe being afraid of James,” Casey said.
James was the one who made initial contact with law enforcement three months ago to report his sister missing. He told investigators he had not seen her in nearly two years.
Casey Parsons has said she believed James spoke to law enforcement as a way to get back at her for kicking him out of the house.
Law enforcement had been called to the Miller Chapel Road home numerous times for violent incidents. One report to law enforcement was made after James allegedly struck Casey with a baseball bat.
Investigators have not said whether they’ve questioned James Parsons any further beyond their initial interview with him in July. When asked if James was a factor, an investigator told the Post they are looking in a lot of directions. No one has been charged.
Anyone with information about Erica Parsons is asked to contact local authorities at 704-216-8700.