A new affidavit reveals how police in Florida finally arrested Dale Smith II 15 years after his ex-fiancée, Michelle Parker, went missing following their appearance on The People’s Court.
As Us previously reported, Smith, 55, was arrested earlier in October and charged with second-degree murder in connection to Parker’s death.
Parker, 33, disappeared on November 17, 2011, after she dropped their twins off at Smith’s home. While her body has never been found, police said in the affidavit that they used enhanced analysis of cellphone location data to justify Smith’s arrest, according to Law & Crime.
Police said that Smith claimed Parker was only at his home for about 10 minutes, but the newly analyzed data revealed she was there for over an hour.
Investigators also believe that after Smith allegedly killed Parker, he sent a text message to her brother from her phone saying she was at a shopping center. However, her phone was actually more than 10 miles away at that point. Police added that they believe Parker was dead by the time Smith allegedly sent the text.
The affidavit shed light on the couple’s relationship issues, stating that witnesses claimed Smith was abusive. Witnesses said Parker often had marks from Smith’s alleged abuse, and one friend claimed Smith told Parker that her “time is coming” during a fight.
Prior to her disappearance, Parker allegedly told a friend she was concerned about how she and Smith were portrayed on The People’s Court. The friend told police that Parker said she was a “nervous wreck” about the episode, which aired just hours before she went missing.
During their appearance on The People’s Court, Judge Marilyn Milian ordered Parker to pay $2,500 after they got into a dispute over an engagement ring.
“She said the judge on the show was very insulting and she knew it would not sit well with the suspect because everyone would see it. The victim found it embarrassing,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
The affidavit also included texts from Smith and Parker, which showed they had insulted each other in the weeks before she disappeared. In one text, Parker even threatened to take custody of their kids away from Smith.
“Mourn for ur kids too! U lost em,” Parker allegedly wrote two weeks before she died. “They’ll b goin with me a**hole.”
While the affidavit shed light on the pair’s tumultuous relationship, investigators have not said if they believe Smith had a motive for killing Parker.
Orlando police Detective Phil McMican told reporters during a recent press conference that authorities also examined Smith’s inconsistent statements during depositions in a civil case.
“Very specific questions were asked of him numerous times over the years, where he gave different answers to those same questions,” McMican said, according to WFTV.
Smith was arrested on October 14 and is currently in custody in the Orange County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
