Authorities in Orlando, Florida have arrested a man accused of murder in the case of his former fiancée who vanished nearly 15 years ago. The news was announced on Wednesday.
Michelle Parker, who was 33 years old at the time of her disappearance, has been missing since November 17, 2011. On that date, a reality court show episode of “The People’s Court” aired, featuring a dispute between Parker and the suspect, Dale Smith Jr., over an engagement ring.
According to the Orlando Police Department, Smith has been charged with second-degree murder. Police Chief Eric Smith stated that Smith Jr. was the last known individual to interact with Parker on the day she vanished, shortly after she dropped their children at his home.
Despite an abandoned SUV discovered the day after she went missing, Parker herself has never been found. Recent advancements in forensic technology allowed the department to reexamine evidence more thoroughly and provided fresh insights, leading to the arrest.
Detective Phillip McMican of the Orlando police revealed that Smith Jr. has been questioned multiple times over the years. Investigators pointed out inconsistencies in his answers to specific questions.
New evidence surfaced over the past year, noted McMican, although the exact nature and details leading to the arrest remain undisclosed. Both vehicles and electronic devices were part of the reevaluated evidence.
CBS affiliate WKMG-TV reported that security footage recorded Parker dropping her children at Smith Jr.’s home the night she disappeared. Her car was found abandoned in an Orlando parking area the next day, and divers later discovered her cellphone in a nearby lake in December 2011.
Despite not finding Parker, the police believe all evidence points to Dale Smith Jr. as the individual responsible for her murder.
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