New look at texts, phone data leads to murder charge in disappearance of ‘The People’s Court’ co-participant

A fresh look at cell phone data and text messages led to arrest of a Florida man accused of murdering his ex-fiancée within hours of their appearance on TV’s “The People’s Court” in 2011, court documents unsealed Tuesday revealed.

Dale Smith Jr., a 55-year-old Orlando resident, was taken into custody Oct. 14 and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Michelle Parker, whose body has never been found, police said.

Smith was 40 and Parker 33 when she was last seen alive on Nov. 17, 2011. The two shared custody of twins at the time.

That afternoon, at about 2 p.m., Parker and Smith appeared for a taping of “The People’s Court” to settle a dispute over a $5,000 engagement ring she allegedly threw off a balcony. The episode was filmed in June 2011. The judge ruled “that both parties were responsible for the ring and ordered they split the $5,000.00 damage,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Smith told investigators that Parker dropped the children off at his home on Nov. 17, 2011, and left about 10 minutes later, police said.

But surveillance cameras appeared to show that “the victim’s Hummer was at the suspect’s residence for at least one hour,” according to the affidavit.

Surveillance cameras showed Parker arriving at Smith’s building at about 3:18 p.m., according to the affidavit. At about 4:18 p.m. “victim and suspect phones leaves suspect’s home,” the document said.

By 4:32 p.m., the “victim’s and suspect’s phones continue moving west” the affidavit said, a route that conflicted with Parker’s plans. “The victim was to travel north to pick up her oldest son who was waiting for her,” it said.

Parker’s brother, Dustin Erickson, also texted her that afternoon asking where she was. Her phone replied, “Waterford,” according to the affidavit. “Waterford” is the common local name for the Waterford Lakes Town Center shopping mall, about 12 miles northeast of Smith’s home.

“The victim’s cell phone never travels east or north towards the Waterford Lakes shopping center,” the affidavit said. “According to Dustin Erickson, the victim had no reason to deceive Dustin as to her location.”

Smith has previously said he had no idea where Parker went after dropping off the children. He told investigators he thought she was “laying low” after the “People’s Court” episode aired, the affidavit said.

“He wanted the victim to come home safe for their kids. However, according to his phone records, he never called or messaged her ever again after November 17, 2011,” the document said.

Police said Smith has a history of domestic violence. Detectives interviewed Jill Van Mechelen, another of his ex-fiancées, whom he knew before he met Parker.

“According to Jill Van Mechelen, the suspect would manually choke (strangle) her during these episodes of domestic physical violence,” the affidavit said. “The suspect also made threats to kill Jill Van Mechelen and her father. Jill Van Mechelen reported that the suspect told her on multiple occasions that he would kill her and/or her father and make them disappear.”

Smith’s attorney declined comment on Wednesday, citing a court gag order.