ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 The ex-fiance of Michelle Parker will be held in the Orange County Jail pending a detention hearing, one day after he was arrested in connection to her death.<\/p>\n
Dale Smith, 55, made his first appearance before a judge Thursday, shortly after his attorney entered into a written plea of \u2018Not Guilty\u2019 on Smith\u2019s behalf. Smith is facing a charge of second-degree murder. <\/p>\n
The judge ordered Smith to be held without bond for now.<\/p>\n
Parker was last seen on November 17, 2011, when Orlando police said she dropped off the kids she shared with Smith at Smith\u2019s home. That same day, an episode of \u201cThe People\u2019s Court\u201d aired, featuring Smith and Parker, who were involved in a dispute over a $5,000 engagement ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey mentioned that \u2018The People\u2019s Court\u2019 in the affidavit,\u201d Rajan Joshi, who has represented Smith since 2011, told News 6\u2019s Mike Valente.<\/p>\n
[WATCH: Police arrest ex-fiance in Michelle Parker\u2019s 2011 disappearance]<\/p>\n
Joshi said he had a chance to review the sealed 46-page arrest affidavit, but was not yet able to obtain a copy.<\/p>\n
In an interview shortly after Smith\u2019s appearance, Joshi told Valente the evidence outlined in the affidavit was \u201ccircumstantial.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I did see was that there were some text messages that came to light between Dale and Michelle or Michelle and other people,\u201d Joshi said. \u201cAnd, you know, it shows that they didn\u2019t have a healthy relationship. But that was obvious when you see \u201cThe Peoples\u2019 Court.\u201d<\/p>\n
In announcing Smith\u2019s arrest Wednesday, Orlando police said that advanced digital forensics helped propel the investigation forward within the last year.<\/p>\n
Smith has long been considered the prime suspect in Parker\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n
Joshi claimed that when he reviewed the affidavit, he did not see any evidence tied to DNA.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve looked at the complaint and from what I see, there are things that we\u2019ve got a lot of work to do, and we plan on doing that work,\u201d Joshi said. \u201cAnd we plan on defending him every which way possible and doing everything we can for our client and doing everything, hopefully, to have justice be served.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joshi said his review of the affidavit did not change his position that Smith had nothing to do with Parker\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n
Orlando police also said Wednesday that the expanded team of investigators re-examined witness testimony, as well as statements made by Smith. Detective Phil McMican said that Smith had given contradictory statements in the past.<\/p>\n
Valente asked Joshi about that claim:<\/p>\n
Valente: \u201cIs it your position that he has told the same story the whole time, whether it\u2019s to police or whether it\u2019s in, you know, civil court in a deposition?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joshi: \u201cWell, anytime somebody gives multiple statements over the years, there\u2019s going to be details that they\u2019re not consistent on. No one\u2019s consistent all the time when they\u2019re telling the truth, you know. So when somebody is lying, they have their statements lined up–\u201d<\/p>\n
Valente: \u201cSo there have been inconsistencies in a story? But you\u2019re saying he\u2019s told the truth the whole time?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joshi: \u201cThe inconsistencies that I saw are very minor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valente also asked Joshi the following:<\/p>\n
Valente: \u201cSo again, you maintain that your client had nothing to do with her disappearance. Does he have any idea who might have had anything to do with her disappearance?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joshi: \u201cWell, Michelle Parker at the time was working at a bar. She\u2019s a very attractive young lady. You know, what happened to her is a mystery.\u201d<\/p>\n
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