A Florida man has been charged with second-degree murder in the presumed death of his former fiancée, Michelle Parker, after a newly unsealed warrant revealed new details about the 2011 case.
Dale Smith Jr., 55, was arrested earlier this month and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Authorities allege Smith choked Parker to death on November 17, 2011, the same day an episode of The People’s Court featuring a dispute over her engagement ring aired. Parker, 33, vanished hours after the episode and has never been found, though she is presumed dead.
Orlando police released a 46-page arrest warrant affidavit on Tuesday, detailing the allegations against Smith. According to the affidavit, Parker went to Smith’s home that evening to drop off their 3-year-old twins. Her sister reported her missing after she failed to show up for her shift at a bar and did not return home.
Smith told detectives he and Parker “do not talk anymore” and that she had only come by to drop off the children. He allowed officers to search his apartment, and nothing suspicious was found at the time, the affidavit states. However, the warrant affidavit notes that Smith was photographed with “recent scratches and abrasions” during his interview with detectives the following day.
Parker’s car was located the day after her disappearance, but her body has never been recovered. Smith was taken into custody on a second-degree murder charge earlier this month, with police citing new evidence and advancements in forensic technology as factors in the arrest.
Military records and court documents reveal a history of domestic violence allegations against Smith. In 2001, while serving in the military, Smith was found guilty of domestic violence against his then-wife, Shannon Smith. He was court-martialed for distributing ecstasy and sentenced to three years in prison. Military records described him as having “severe mood swings when subjected to minimal stress” and an “inability to effectively handle any level of stress.”
Before his relationship with Parker, Smith was engaged to another woman, according to court documents. The affidavit also references newly recovered text messages and injuries that were not addressed in the initial investigation.
Smith’s defense attorney has maintained his client’s innocence, stating that Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to review evidence related to Parker’s disappearance.