USNBC NewsWED 28 OCT 2026 / 3:42 PM CDT

New look at texts, phone data leads to murder charge in 2011 ‘The People’s Court’ disappearance

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.

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New look at texts, phone data leads to murder charge in 2011 ‘The People’s Court’ disappearance

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