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.
asserted
documents → lead → 2011
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.
asserted
police → take → Parker
Smith was 40 and Parker 33 when she was last seen alive on Nov. 17, 2011.
asserted
she → see → Nov.
The two shared custody of twins at the time.
asserted
two → share → 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.
uncertain
she → appear → balcony
The episode was filmed in June 2011.
asserted
episode → film → June
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.
uncertain
they → rule → 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.
asserted
police → tell → Nov.
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.
uncertain
Hummer → appear → affidavit
Surveillance cameras showed Parker arriving at Smith’s building at about 3:18 p.m., according to the affidavit.
uncertain
Parker → show → affidavit
At about 4:18 p.m. “victim and suspect phones leaves suspect’s home,” the document said.
asserted
document → leave → home
By 4:32 p.m., the “victim’s and suspect’s phones continue moving west” the affidavit said, a route
asserted
affidavit → continue → p.m.
that conflicted with Parker’s plans
asserted
that → conflict → plans
“The victim was to travel north to pick up her oldest son who was waiting for her,” it said.
asserted
it → travel → her
Parker’s brother, Dustin Erickson, also texted her that afternoon asking where she was.
asserted
she → texte → her
Her phone replied, “Waterford,” according to the affidavit.
uncertain
phone → reply → affidavit
“The victim’s cell phone never travels east or north towards the Waterford Lakes shopping center,” the affidavit said.
asserted
affidavit → travel → center
“According to Dustin Erickson, the victim had no reason to deceive Dustin as to her location.”
uncertain
victim → accord → location
Smith has previously said he had no idea where Parker went after dropping off the children.
asserted
Parker → say → children
He told investigators he thought she was “laying low” after the “People’s Court” episode aired, the affidavit said.
asserted
affidavit → tell → investigators
“He wanted the victim to come home safe for their kids.
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victim → want → kids
However, according to his phone records, he never called or messaged her ever again after November 17, 2011,” the document said.
uncertain
document → accord → November
Police said Smith has a history of domestic violence.
asserted
Smith → say → violence
Detectives interviewed Jill Van Mechelen, another of his ex-fiancées, whom he knew before he met Parker.
asserted
he → interview → Parker
“According to Jill Van Mechelen, the suspect would manually choke (strangle) her during these episodes of domestic physical violence,” the affidavit said.
uncertain
affidavit → accord → violence
“The suspect also made threats to kill Jill Van Mechelen and her father.
asserted
suspect → make → Mechelen
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.”
asserted
them → report → her
Smith’s attorney declined comment on Wednesday, citing a court gag order.
asserted
attorney → decline → order
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