The mother of a Florida woman who disappeared 15 years ago is rejoicing following the arrest of her daughter's former fiancé.
Yvonne Ellis Stewart, 72, celebrated Wednesday's arrest of Dale Smith Jr., 55, in the 2011 disappearance of her daughter, Michelle Parker, 33, who vanished after the couple appeared on an episode of The People's Court regarding a lawsuit over an engagement ring.
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"Today was a good day," Stewart posted on Facebook late Wednesday, hours after Orlando police announced Smith's arrest while citing a breakthrough in digital forensics to uncover additional evidence.
She declined to comment when reached early Thursday.
"I will not be doing interviews," Stewart told Newsweek via text message. "Waiting for trial. Take care. Sorry."
Stewart spoke briefly on Smith's yesterday, WESH reported.
"It’s like the happiest day because she deserves this," the emotional mother told the station. "Honestly, I have a lot of prayers that go unanswered. And I just knew that one day, everything dark would come into the light, and to not lean to my own understanding, and trust in him in all my ways.”
Stewart continued: "It’s not easy to lose a child this way. Her children didn’t deserve to lose a mother this way."
Orlando police said officers arrested Smith on a charge of second-degree murder following a renewed focus on the cold case that led to additional evidence.
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"While Michelle has not yet been located, all evidence leads to Dale Smith Jr. as the person responsible for Michelle’s murder," police said in a statement. "We will continue pursuing justice for Michelle, her family, and every victim we serve."
Smith's attorney, Rajan Joshi, did not return requests for comment, but said Wednesday's arrest came as a surprise despite investigators having always considered his client a suspect.
"I spent time with him last night at the jail and I’ve talked to him for 15 years now, just about," Joshi told USA Today. "He’s always maintained his innocence. That's the mother of his child. We want to see justice done for Michelle Parker and her family. We just don't want the wrong guy convicted."
A vehicle belonging to Parker was discovered abandoned the day after she was last seen in November 2011, while her cellphone was found in Belle Isle a few weeks later, the Palm Beach Post previously reported.
Smith, who had been considered the prime suspect in Parker's disappearance, was the last person to see her after she dropped off their children at his home, Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith told reporters Wednesday.
Smith and Parker had 3-year-old twins when she vanished, as well as another child from a previous relationship, according to Reuters.
In November 2024, Stewart marked the 13th anniversary of her daughter's disappearance, characterizing the memory as the "saddest day" of her life.
"One year after the breakup with her ex fiancé was Nov 17th 2011," she wrote on Facebook. "Ex is still primary and only suspect according to an extensive investigation by the Orlando Police Depart."
The couple had appeared on a taping of The People's Court in October 2011 in a dispute about an engagement ring, video shows.
Smith claimed Parker threw an engagement ring he purchased off a balcony during a dispute. He sued his former partner for $5,000. A judge on the show ordered Parker to pay $2,500, or half the value of the ring, which was never found.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas