Michelle Parker’s ex-fiancé arrested in her disappearance, death

15 years of searching. It makes me angry that we have to go through this all the time. It's really painful and hard. Mourning. I think about Michelle probably 10 times a day. Hoping. It's just an unfinished, you know, the end of the knot that isn't tied. For an answer. Michelle Parker disappeared in 2011, a case that went cold for over a decade. Hundreds of searches and tips later. OPD's Fugitive Task Force and SWAT team arrested Dale Smith Jr., Michelle's ex-fiancé. Fox 35 is live with team coverage of how police say they finally cracked the case. We have been following this breaking news all afternoon. The ex-fiancé of Michelle Parker cuffed and charged with her murder. Thanks for joining us. I'm Luann Sorrell. And I'm Jack Royer. This is brand new video of Dale Smith Jr. being taken into custody. He has been a suspect in this case since Michelle disappeared almost 15 years ago. She was last seen November 17, 2011. That was the same day that she was featured in a pre-taped episode of The People's Court with her ex-fiance. Her car was found the next day on the west side of Orlando. Then about three weeks later, her cell phone was found at the bottom of a lake. Since then, the leads got harder to come by until today. We have live team coverage for you today. Hannah McKenzie walks us through the evidence that led to Smith's arrest. But first, Marie Ettinger is also joining us live tonight. So, Marie, you spoke to Michelle's mom today. She never gave up searching for her daughter. No, and she told us that for all this time, she's been waiting every day for Michelle to come home, to just walk through her doors. And she found out today that isn't going to happen. But the man who's accused of being the reason for that is now facing some form of justice. And it's been hard, let me tell you. Yvonne Stewart, tearful. These are happy tears. The news sinking in that after almost a decade and a half, someone will be held accountable for her daughter's disappearance. It's excruciating. It's hopeful. And then you have days where maybe it won't ever happen. And then you just try to buck up and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. That someone being held accountable is the same man Stewart has been accusing all this time, her daughter's ex-fiancé, Dale Smith Jr. He's now facing second-degree murder charges for Michelle's death. Court records show Michelle had gotten a restraining order against Smith in 2009, accusing him of domestic violence. He'd also been arrested in the past for battery, burglary, drug crimes. But up until now, he'd never been charged for her murder. Justice is an important thing when something like this happens. So for her not to have had justice all these years, it just wasn't right. Michelle's body still hasn't been found. Police say they're hopeful Smith or someone from the community will provide information that helps them find it. I was able to talk with Smith's attorney this evening. We'll have more about that at 6, but for now I can tell you they do plan to plead not guilty in this case. Live in Orlando, Marie Ettinger, Fox 35 News. Thanks, and of course the big question we all want to know, what exactly broke this case open now? The police chief told us that he expanded the team looking into everything they have collected over all these years. Hannah McKenzie continues our live team coverage now. So, Hannah, what was the key to cracking this case? Well, Luann, there were multiple keys. Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith telling us today fresh eyes, a sharpened focus, and advancements in technology all projected this case ahead for detectives and ultimately made it able for them to secure this arrest. Almost 15 years, an excruciatingly long time with no answers, but plenty of time for technology to advance. The things we couldn't do 15 years ago that we can do now allowed us to close this case. Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith says new technology and evidence cracked this cold case open, leading OPD homicide detectives to Michelle Parker's ex-fiancé, Dale Smith Jr. He was a suspect in her disappearance, but never charged until now. Digital forensics playing a pivotal role, says Detective Phil McMicken. Vehicles, electronic devices, phones, computers, some of that information revealed more detailed location data and communications between devices that were used back then. Parker, then 33, was last seen November 17, 2011, after dropping the couple's three-year-old twins off at Smith's house. The suspect was interviewed more than once and then since then has taken part in depositions related to this case. And very specific questions were asked of him numerous times over the years where he gave different answers to those same questions. Smith was arrested by SWAT Wednesday morning at his place of work. here in the Orlando area. He's charged with second degree murder. Although this is a huge step forward toward closure for Parker's family, the case still isn't technically closed. Detectives tell us they still don't know what happened to Parker or where she is. Live in Orlando, Hannah McKenzie, Fox 35 News. Hannah, thank you, and we will continue to follow this story and all of the developments. You can stay up to date by downloading the Fox Local app.