ORLANDO, Fla. — Former Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney says the arrest of Dale Smith Jr. brought a measure of relief in a case that followed him throughout his retirement.
“This case, I don’t want to say haunted me over the years, but it’s followed me over the years,” Rooney told Channel 9 anchor Greg Warmoth.
Follow the latest developments in the Michelle Parker case here and watch Channel 9’s documentary examining the search for answers.
Rooney was Orlando’s police chief when Michelle Parker disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011. Eleven days later, he publicly identified Smith, Parker’s former fiancé, as the primary suspect.
Current Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith called Rooney before Wednesday’s news conference to tell him an arrest had been made.
“It was one of the best days of my life, to be honest with you,” Rooney said. “I was praying to God that someday we would get some kind of resolution.”
Smith is charged with second-degree murder and remains in the Orange County Jail without bond. He pleaded not guilty Thursday and has maintained his innocence.
Rooney emphasized that the arrest is only the beginning of the court process.
“There’s still a lot of work ahead, the court proceedings and everything else, but it is a step in the right direction, in my opinion,” he said.
Rooney said investigators focused on Smith early because of his relationship with Parker, information detectives collected and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Parker vanished after dropping off the couple’s twins at Smith’s home. Her disappearance came the same day an episode of “The People’s Court” featuring the former couple aired.
Her cellphone was later recovered beneath a bridge near Lake Conway in Belle Isle. Rooney said the phone had last connected with a cell tower in that area at about 8 p.m. the night Parker disappeared.
Finding it was like locating “a needle in the haystack,” Rooney said.
Rooney said investigators conducted searches, formed a task force with homicide detectives from across Central Florida and worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Crimeline.
“I don’t think at that time, even months after that, we missed anything or could have done anything a little bit better,” Rooney said. “I just think that technology has grown so much over the years.”
Orlando police said advances in technology allowed investigators to conduct new analysis of digital evidence recovered from phones, computers and vehicles. Police also cited renewed witness statements and statements previously made by Smith.
Rooney is no longer involved in the investigation and said he has not reviewed the current evidence. He credited the detectives who continued working the case after he left the department.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Rooney said. “It shows that it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 years, 15 years or 50 years. With DNA and all the advancements in forensics, it never ends.”
Parker’s remains have not been found. Rooney said he hopes the case will eventually provide her family with answers about what happened and where she is.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.