Newly released court documents have shed light on the long-running disappearance of Michelle Parker, a mother who vanished after appearing with her former fiancé on the television program The People’s Court.
Parker, 33, was last seen on November 17, 2011, when she dropped off her three-year-old twins with their father, her former fiancé Dale Smith Jr., now 55. Her body has never been recovered.
Earlier that day, the estranged couple appeared on national television in a prerecorded episode of The People’s Court. The program showed them arguing over a $5,000 engagement ring that had gone missing.
The case remained unsolved for nearly 15 years. That changed several weeks ago when Smith was arrested in connection with Parker’s death and charged with second-degree murder.
According to a 46-page arrest affidavit signed by Orlando Police Department detectives, investigators believe Smith strangled Parker on the same day the episode aired.
The affidavit includes a photograph of Smith taken after Parker disappeared. Detectives said the image appeared to show “recent scratches and abrasions,” which they believe may have been defensive injuries inflicted by Parker.
Court records describe Smith and Parker’s relationship as “tumultuous” and reference an alleged history of domestic violence, including claims that Smith had previously choked partners.
The affidavit states that Smith was convicted of domestic violence charges involving his first wife in 2001 and was later dishonorably discharged from the military.
Michelle Parker, a mother of three, was last seen on November 17, 2011, after dropping off her three-year-old twins with Smith
Dale Smith Jr., 55, was arrested earlier this month and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Parker’s 2011 disappearance
Hours before Parker disappeared, the estranged couple appeared on a prerecorded episode of The People’s Court and argued over a missing $5,000 engagement ring
Military records obtained by Orlando police described Smith’s performance as “unsatisfactory,” citing “severe mood swings” and an inability to “handle any level of stress.”
Investigators also interviewed another former fiancée, who alleged that Smith had choked her and threatened to kill both her and her father.
According to the affidavit, she said Smith had choked her more than five times during sex until she lost consciousness.
The former fiancée told police that Smith allegedly used his hands or a belt to choke her and would not stop even when she asked him to. The affidavit characterized the alleged conduct as being “all about control.”
A friend of Smith’s also told police that, roughly two weeks before Parker vanished, Smith had said: “I wish someone would kill this b****.”
Detectives further cited a series of hostile text messages exchanged between Smith and Parker in the days before her disappearance.
In early October, Parker allegedly sent Smith angry messages after the pair argued over custody of their twins.
The affidavit states: “Between October 1 — November 17, 2011, the suspect and the victim exchanged 1,013 text messages and 21 voice calls. The suspect never called or messaged the victim after November 17, 2011.”
A photograph taken after Parker disappeared appeared to show what police described as “recent scratches and abrasions” on Smith
Investigators allege the marks may have been defensive injuries caused by Parker as Smith allegedly choked her
Parker allegedly told Smith that she hated him and threatened to seek a court order after accusing him of failing to honor their custody agreement.
One message read: “My kids are better off with out u n their life. They have a new dad now & hes better with then than u are.”
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Two days before Parker was last seen, Smith allegedly asked her to have sex in exchange for money.
On the day she disappeared, Smith reportedly texted Parker: “I’m sexually frustrated, lol.”
Parker replied that his frustration was his own fault and added: “I’m sure you’re fine.”
At approximately 3:15 p.m., Parker sent a friend her final text message, saying she was doing great. She sent it about an hour after her episode of The People’s Court aired.
Around that time, her phone connected to a cell tower serving Smith’s neighborhood. A traffic camera recorded her black Hummer at Smith’s home at 3:18 p.m.
Parker did not respond to any further calls or messages. According to the affidavit, her vehicle and phone records placed her at Smith’s home for more than an hour after she arrived.
Smith allegedly gave detectives a different account, saying Parker had stayed for only about 10 minutes and that he left home soon afterward.
Parker and Smith were estranged when she disappeared but shared three-year-old twins, pictured above. Picture source: Facebook
In the weeks before Parker vanished, she texted Smith that their children were “better off” without him. Picture source: Facebook
Shortly before 9 p.m., a traffic camera captured the Hummer with the bumper stickers promoting Parker’s tanning business removed.
The vehicle was found the following day at a nearby apartment complex. Parker’s purse was still inside.
Her phone was later recovered from Lake Conway. Investigators alleged that it had been thrown from a bridge and said messages from the day she disappeared had been deleted through 4:27 p.m., according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also accuses Smith of misleading detectives about how long he had been at his father’s home on the day Parker disappeared.
“It is believed the suspect killed the victim in his house after days of offensive messages, declining sex for cash, the embarrassing The People’s Court episode airing, and threatening to restrict his access to his children,” the affidavit states.
“It is believed the suspect choked the victim to death, likely resulting in the scratches and abrasions observed on him while the victim fought back. He was known for this behavior, admitted he was sexually frustrated, the victim was never seen again, and there were no signs of a crime scene found at his home the same day.”
The day after Parker vanished, her black Hummer was found abandoned at an apartment complex, while her phone was recovered underwater near a bridge
“I knew. We all knew. Yeah, we all knew,” Parker’s mother, Yvonne Stewart, told WESH 2 News after learning of the long-awaited arrest (both pictured)
After Smith’s arrest earlier this month, Parker’s mother, Yvonne Stewart, told WESH 2 News: “I knew. We all knew. Yeah, we all knew.”
“They told me they arrested Dale Smith on second-degree murder charges for Michelle Parker, and it’s like the happiest day because she deserves this,” Stewart said.
Smith’s attorney, Rajan Joshi, told the outlet that the arrest “came out of nowhere” and that neither he nor his client had anticipated the charges.
“Whatever evidence they retested is something we want to take a look at. I plan to go through the case with a fine-tooth comb, leave no stones unturned, and talk to every witness that there is, depose them, and get down to it,” he said.
“He maintains his innocence, and we’re going to go forward with defending him.”
Smith does not appear to have entered a formal plea to the charges. Our News Outlet has contacted his attorney for comment.
