Arrest Made in 15-Year-Old Case of Disappearance in Orlando

Authorities in Orlando, Florida, have arrested a man on a murder charge linked to the disappearance of his ex-fiancée nearly 15 years ago. Michelle Parker, who was 33 at the time, vanished on November 17, 2011. This was the same day she appeared on an episode of ‘The People’s Court’ alongside the suspect, Dale Smith Jr., where they argued over an engagement ring.

The Orlando Police Department announced Wednesday that Smith has been detained on a second-degree murder charge. Police Chief Eric Smith stated that Smith Jr. was the last known person to have seen or heard from Michelle. She had dropped their children at his home on the day she went missing.

Although Parker’s SUV was found abandoned the day after she disappeared, she remains unfound. The couple shares two children. In a news conference, Chief Smith indicated that the department expanded the investigation over the past year, reevaluating evidence and employing advanced digital forensic techniques.

Detective Phillip McMican noted that Smith Jr. had been interviewed several times, including in depositions related to the investigation. McMican emphasized that forensic advancements allowed for a better interpretation of evidence from vehicles and electronic devices.

Though specific details prompting the arrest remain undisclosed, police affirm that all evidence points to Smith Jr. as responsible for Parker’s murder. CBS affiliate WKMG-TV reported that security footage showed Parker dropping her children at Smith’s residence the night she vanished. Her vehicle was later found in an Orlando parking lot, and her phone was retrieved from a lake a month after her disappearance. Smith Jr. has been a suspect since then.