Nearly 15 years after the disappearance of a Florida mom of three, her ex-fiancé has been arrested and charged with her murder, authorities said.
Michelle Parker, then 33, was last seen on Nov. 17, 2011, the same day a pre-taped episode of "The People's Court" aired featuring a lawsuit over an engagement ring between her and her ex-fiancé, Dale Smith Jr. The Orlando Police Department announced on Oct. 14 it had arrested Smith, 55, on a charge of second-degree murder after new evidence was discovered.
Parker's remains have never been found.
"While Michelle has not yet been located, all evidence leads to Dale Smith Jr as the person responsible for Michelle’s murder," Orlando police said in a statement Oct. 14.
Smith's criminal defense attorney, Rajan
Joshi, told USA TODAY in an interview on Oct. 15 that the arrest came as a surprise, as he wasn't aware of any significant activity in the case in recent years, but said police had always kept Smith as a suspect.
"I spent time with him last night at the jail and I’ve talked to him for 15 years now, just about. He’s always maintained his innocence," Joshi said. "That's the mother of his child. We want to see justice done for Michelle Parker and her family. We just don't want the wrong guy convicted."
Parker's Hummer was found abandoned the day after she was last seen with custom decals removed, and her cell phone was found in the water in Belle Isle a few weeks later, according to a report from the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, in January 2012.
Smith was named a prime suspect early on in the case but was not charged, according to the Palm Beach Post. He was the last person to see or hear from Parker that day after she dropped off their children at his home, said Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith at an Oct. 14 news conference. Dale Smith Jr. and Parker had twins together who were 3 years old at the time of her disappearance, and Parker had another child from a previous relationship, Reuters previously reported.
Eric Smith said the suspect has made conflicting statements over the years.
"New evidence was found using advancements in technology, especially in our digital forensics-related evidence, so vehicles, electronic devices, phones, computers," said Det. Phillip McMican, adding that police are able to better interpret evidence today than in 2011.
Joshi said he hasn't yet reviewed reports of the evidence that led to the arrest. Dale Smith Jr. is due in court for a first appearance the afternoon of Oct. 15, he said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida man charged with murder nearly 15 years after ex's disappearance
