ORLANDO, Fla. — The man charged in the disappearance of Michelle Parker will stay in the Orange County Jail, held without bond and charged with second degree murder.
Orlando Police arrested Dale Smith, Jr. Wednesday, nearly 15 years after his ex-fiance disappeared. Parker has never been found.
Smith made his first appearance in Orange County Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors argued there is enough evidence and the charges are serious enough to hold Smith with no bond and the judge agreed. Smith’s defense attorney Rajan Joshi pushed back, but did not prevail.
“Your honor, I’ve read the 46-page affidavit. I would ask this honorable court to go ahead and grant a bond on Mr. Smith,” Joshi said to the judge.
Joshi argued the state does not have enough evidence to hold Smith with no bond. Smith, wearing glasses and a blue jumpsuit, listened quietly during his first appearance on second-degree murder charges.
Orlando Police announced the arrest of Smith on Wednesday, nearly 15 years after his ex-fiance Michelle Parker disappeared on Nov. 17, 2011.
Parker vanished the same day a taped episode of “The People’s Court” focused on a dispute between Parker and Smith. Police later found Parker’s vehicle and cell phone.
Orlando Police Detective Phil McMican said Wednesday at a news conference the evolution of technology helped lead the way in this investigation.
“Using advancements in technology, especially in our digital forensics, and related evidence, so vehicles, electronic devices, phones, computers, we were better able to interpret that evidence,” McMican said.
Joshi has represented Smith since 2011, and says his client maintains his innocence. Joshi adds his team will closely examine the evidence and the methods used to obtain it.
“Just because an examination is done and a new technology comes out scientifically (it) does not mean it’s something that’s going to be reliable,” Joshi said. “And that’s one of the things we have to look at.”
Andrew Von Ramin Mapp is a digital forensics expert with Cyber Centaurs in Orlando. He says it is easier to use digital forensics technology on an old iPhone or computer like in this case, compared to modern devices with stronger security features. Mapp said detectives can use digital forensics technology to do thorough searches on computers.
“They will, for example, look for deleted information,” he said. “They will, for example, look for any search activity in web browsers. What did the individual, what websites did he or she visit?”
As the defense team waits to see new evidence in the case, prosecutors are building theirs, trying to prove second degree murder.
While Smith is currently in jail without bond, his attorney and prosecutors agreed Thursday afternoon to set a special hearing in the future to see if a judge will consider granting bond to him.