ORLANDO, Fla. — A judge could decide Monday whether the public will finally get a closer look at the evidence in the nearly 15-year-old disappearance of Michelle Parker, whose ex-fiancé was arrested earlier this month.
Dale Smith Jr. was arrested on Oct. 14 and has pleaded not guilty. He remains jailed without bond as the case moves forward.
A hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. could determine whether Smith’s arrest affidavit will be made public.
The document has remained sealed since his arrest, leaving key details about the investigation unavailable to the public.
For nearly 15 years, Parker’s family has waited for answers. She was last seen in 2011, the same day an episode of The People’s Court featuring Parker and Smith aired.
According to police, Smith was the last person known to see Parker alive.
Investigators say she dropped off her twins at his home and was never seen again. Smith has long been the sole suspect in the case.
The arrest affidavit could offer new insight into the investigation and explain what led authorities to arrest Smith after so many years. So far, however, its contents remain confidential.
Court records show the State Attorney’s Office asked a judge to keep the affidavit sealed until Monday, because witness interviews still needed to be completed.
Prosecutors said in their request that those interviews would be finished by Sunday.
At Monday’s hearing, the judge could decide whether the affidavit can be released to the public or must remain sealed.
Parker’s family plans to attend the hearing as they continue to seek answers about what happened to her.
The investigation also raises questions about the steps authorities took to reach this point, including a reported visit involving one of Smith’s children and a plane ticket.
Those details could provide additional context as more information about the case emerges.
Whether the affidavit becomes public could help shed light on the evidence behind Smith’s arrest and the investigation that brought authorities back to Parker’s disappearance.
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