ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly 15 years of searches, evidence reviews and unanswered questions preceded the arrest of Dale Smith Jr. in the disappearance of Orlando mother Michelle Parker.
Orlando police arrested Smith, Parker’s former fiancé, Wednesday morning and charged him with second-degree murder. Police said investigators recently reexamined witness testimony, Smith’s previous statements and digital evidence collected during the original investigation.
Parker’s remains have not been found, and police said the investigation into her location will continue.
Follow Channel 9’s live updates on the arrest and continuing investigation here.
Here is how the case developed:
Nov. 17, 2011: Parker disappears
Police said Parker dropped off her twins at Smith’s home before disappearing.
That same day, an episode of “The People’s Court” aired featuring Parker and Smith arguing over a $5,000 engagement ring. During the episode, Parker said their relationship had been a “roller coaster ride” and was over.
Parker’s family began searching for her as police investigated her disappearance.
Nov. 28, 2011: Smith named primary suspect
Eleven days after Parker disappeared, then-Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney publicly identified Smith as the primary suspect in the investigation.
Smith maintained that he did not know what happened to Parker after she dropped off their children.
December 2011: Parker’s cellphone found
About three weeks after Parker disappeared, an Orlando police dive team recovered her cellphone beneath a bridge at Lake Conway in Belle Isle.
The discovery became a significant piece of evidence in the investigation, but Parker remained missing.
February 2012: Dive team searches another lake
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team searched a lake near South Orange Blossom Trail, about 1½ miles from Smith’s home.
Investigators did not find Parker during the search.
Two years after the disappearance: Police release new video
Orlando police released surveillance video showing Parker’s Hummer stopped at a red light around 9 p.m. the night she disappeared.
The vehicle was captured about a mile from where it was later found.
2013: Parker’s mother files lawsuit
Parker’s mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit as the family continued searching for answers. The lawsuit was eventually dropped.
2022: Documentary leads to $200,000 reward
Channel 9 examined Parker’s disappearance as part of “The Search,” a 30-minute special focused on missing Central Florida women.
After the documentary aired, an anonymous donor offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to answers in Parker’s case.
August 2023: Investigators search property connected to Smith’s family
Investigators used ground-penetrating radar to search the yard at the home of Smith’s father.
The search focused on a concrete slab that officials said had been poured in 2012, after Parker disappeared. Police said investigators did not find anything during the search.
Months later, Parker’s parents spoke with Channel 9 about their continuing search for answers and justice.
Oct. 14, 2026: Smith arrested
Orlando police said its Fugitive Unit and SWAT Team arrested Dale Smith Jr. nearly 15 years after Parker was last seen.
Police said investigators expanded the team assigned to the case during the past year and used advances in technology to conduct a more detailed analysis of evidence from phones, computers and vehicles.
Investigators said the renewed analysis uncovered additional information that helped move the case forward.
Smith is charged with second-degree murder. Police have not released additional details about the evidence against him as the case moves through the judicial process.
Although an arrest has now been made, investigators said their work is not finished. Parker’s remains have not been recovered, and police said they remain committed to locating her and providing answers to her family.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2026 Cox Media Group
