Florida man arrested on murder charge in ex-fiancée’s 2011 disappearance

October 14, 2026 / 6:51 PM EDT / CBS News

A man has been arrested on a murder charge in connection with the disappearance of his ex-fiancée nearly 15 years ago, authorities in Orlando, Florida, announced Wednesday.

Michelle Parker, then 33, disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011, the same day that an episode of the reality court show "The People's Court" aired that featured Parker and the suspect, Dale Smith Jr., in a contentious dispute over an engagement ring.

The Orlando Police Department reported Wednesday that Smith was taken into custody on a single count of second-degree murder.

Parker's SUV was located abandoned one day after she went missing, but she has never been found. Parker and Smith have two children together.

Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith said in a news conference following Wednesday's arrest that Smith Jr. was "the last known person to see or hear from Michelle" on the day of her disappearance after she had dropped their children off at his home.

The police chief said that over the past year, his department expanded its investigation into the case and "took a fresh, focused look at all the evidence."

"We reexamined testimony and conflicting statements made by the…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/