Orlando police arrest ex-fiancé in 2011 disappearance of Michelle Parker
Dale Smith Jr., the ex-fiancé of Michelle Parker, was arrested on October 14, 2026, and charged with second-degree murder in connection with her disappearance 15 years prior. Parker, a mother of three, vanished on November 17, 2011, after dropping her children at Smith’s home, the same day a pre-recorded episode of 'The People's Court' aired featuring their dispute over an engagement ring. Police stated that advances in digital forensics and a re-examination of old evidence led to the arrest, though Parker’s body has not been found. Smith was booked into the Orange County Jail, and authorities indicated the charge could be upgraded to first-degree murder.
