Police in Orlando, Florida, have arrested Michelle Parker’s former fiancé, nearly 15 years after she vanished just hours after a televised dispute between the couple aired on “The People’s Court.”
Dale Smith Jr., 55, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Orlando Police Department and charged with second-degree murder in Parker’s death. Although her body has never been found, police said that “all evidence leads to Dale Smith Jr. as the person responsible for Michelle’s murder.”
Parker was last seen on Nov. 17, 2011, when she dropped off her twins with Smith. Her disappearance remained unsolved for years.
The same afternoon, a prerecorded episode of “The People’s Court” aired featuring Parker and Smith as they argued over a $5,000 engagement ring.
MICHELLE PARKER: 6 YEARS AFTER FLORIDA MOM DISAPPEARED, EX-FIANCÉ IS PRIME SUSPECT
Dale Smith Jr., 55, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his former fiancée, Michelle Parker, who disappeared in Orlando, Fla., in November 2011. (Orlando Police Department)
During the televised court dispute, Parker said Smith “gets pretty malicious and vindictive.” She also said, “he said that he wanted his ring, so I took it off, and I threw it at him.” Friends of the couple had previously described their relationship as tumultuous.
Parker was reported missing after she failed to arrive at work. Her brother, Dustin, texted her to ask where she was and received a reply saying “Waterford.” The one-word response alarmed her family, who said Parker would not normally communicate that way.
CONTINUE READING: Wall Street Analysts Suspect China Is Hiding US Treasury Holdings Through Canada
Michelle Parker disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011, hours after a prerecorded episode of “The People’s Court” aired featuring a dispute with her former fiancé, Dale Smith Jr., over a $5,000 engagement ring. Her body has never been found. (Orlando Police Department)
Several days later, investigators found Parker’s abandoned Hummer near an apartment complex west of the Mall at Millenia. The decal advertising her airbrush-tanning business had been removed from the vehicle. A dive team later recovered Parker’s iPhone from a lake about four miles from her home.
Smith had been considered a prime suspect for years, but investigators previously lacked sufficient evidence to make an arrest. Police said the case advanced following “years of investigative work and a renewed, focused effort over the past year.” They also credited an “expanded investigative team” with reexamining evidence and applying advances in digital forensics.
Dale Smith Jr., 55, is escorted by law enforcement officers following his arrest in connection with the 2011 disappearance and presumed murder of his former fiancée, Michelle Parker, in Orlando, Fla. (Orlando Police Department)
Detective Phil McMickin said Wednesday at a news conference that Smith had been interviewed by police numerous times.
“The suspect was interviewed more than once, and since then has taken part in depositions related to this case, and very specific questions were asked of him numerous times over the years where he gave different answers to those same questions,” McMickin said.
News Outlet has contacted Smith’s defense attorney for comment.
