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Michelle Parker disappearance: Police make arrest | Full press conference
The Orlando Police Department has made an arrest in connection to the disappearance of Michelle Parker, an Orlando mom who disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011 – nearly 15 years ago. Police said Parker's ex-fiance, Dale Smith Jr., was arrested early Wednesday morning under suspicion of second-degree murder in Parker's presumed death. Smith has long been considered a suspect in Parker's disappearance
ORLANDO, Fla - The Orlando Police Department has made an arrest in connection to the disappearance of Michelle Parker, an Orlando mom who went missing on Nov. 17, 2011 – nearly 15 years ago.
Michelle Parker's ex-fiancé' arrested in her disappearance, death
What we know:
Dale Smith Jr., Parker's ex-fiancé, was arrested early Wednesday morning under suspicion of second-degree murder in Parker's presumed death, the Orlando Police Department said. Smith had long been considered a suspect in Parker's disappearance. However, until now, he had not been arrested or charged.
Police said Smith Jr. was the last person to see or hear from Parker in 2011, when she dropped their kids off at his house.
He had declined being involved in her disappearance.
Chief: New evidence, advances in digital forensics led to arrest
What they're saying:
Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said advances in digital forensics and a review of the case helped lead to Smith Jr.'s arrest.
"Smith was the last known person to see or hear from Michelle on Nov. 17, 2011, after she dropped their children off at his home. Over the past year, we've expanded our investigative team looking into this case and took a fresh-focused look at all of the evidence. We re-examined testimony and conflicting statements made by the suspect and used advances in digital forensics to uncover and analyze additional evidence. This case never stopped being a priority. Our detectives kept working. They kept asking questions. They kept examining the evidence," he said.
New evidence found within the last year
One of the lead detectives also spoke during the press conference. He said new evidence had been collected within the last year, and said old evidence and data were being reexamined using new technologies and advancements in digital forensics.
"We were able to better interpret that data today," he said, specifically mentioning better location data and communications between devices used in 2011.
Michelle Parker's disappearance
The backstory:
Michelle Parker, then 33, and a mother of three, was reported missing on Nov. 17, 2011. Her disappearance came hours after she and her ex-fiance, Dale Smith Jr., appeared on an episode of The People's Court related to a dispute over a $5,000 ring (that episode was taped months earlier).
On Nov. 18, 2011, Parker's black Hummer was found abandoned in the area of Walden Circle. Her iPhone was later discovered in a lake south of Orlando, not far from a bridge.
Police said Parker was on her way to drop their kids off at Smith Jr.'s house when she disappeared. She was reported missing after she did not show up for work at a bar in Sanford.
The Source: This story uses information gathered from the Orlando Police Department and previous reporting by FOX 35.