One of the first things I think of when a young adult goes missing is… the parents are painfully hurt and desperate for answers. My sympathy to them. Michelle Parker was 33 years old when she went missing on Nov. 17. 2011. Her parents are still trying to find her but the detectives claim they don’t have any new leads to go on. Michelle and her ex fiancee Dale smith were on again off again since 2006. She had a ten year old son from a previous relationship and three year old twins with Dale at the time of her disappearance. According to the “Daily Mail” Michelle’s mother Yvonne Stewart recently stated that she didn’t think Dale had anything to do with her daughter’s disappearance but some years ago she did file a wrongful death suit against Dale Smith in 2004. It’s a tough question to answer without evidence but there were clues that may have been undiscovered.
It is observed that Dale and Michelle had a tumultuous relationship full of arguments. They were once engaged and they were fighting over the engagement ring. I believe Dale wanted the ring back and Michelle was very hesitant to return the ring. Of course they had more malicious words to each other as they were standing near the hotel balcony. Once Michelle takes the ring off her finger she unsympathetically throws it at Dale. The ring they were fighting over went on a trip, bouncing over the railing and down 9 floors, out of sight. Sadly the ring could not be located and I’m not sure how Michelle felt about the ring going missing but I’m sure Dale was pissed! This is the fight that prompted their appearance on “The People’s Court”.
On the docking, is the highlighted argument of Dale and Michelle who explained the details of the fight at the hotel to the judge. That’s not all! The truth of Dale’s violent past has come to the light during this episode I believe. He had served 10 days in jail for battery in the 90’s, was court martialed for physical violence in the marines, and was also dishonorably discharged from the marines in 2003. During one of their violent arguments, Michelle claimed Dale busted her passenger side window in her vehicle and sternly but loudly said “Your day is coming”. That is very chilling knowing his violent history! I guess Michelle didn’t realize the seriousness and threatening tone of that statement. Maybe he was plotting something since that time and really meant those words. At one point during his relationship with Michelle, a restraining order was requested but a judge denied Michelle’s request in 2009. The verdict on “The People’s Court” was that Michelle had to pay half of the cost of the ring adding up to $2500.
On the date that Michelle went missing she was seen by Dale because she went to his house to drop off the twins they biological parented. He was the last person known to see her alive. What happened after she dropped the kids off? I wonder did Michelle ever make it back to her vehicle? And what did the detectives find when they searched Dale Smith’s home if anything? It’s shocking that the detectives didn’t solve this case at least so Michelle’s family can have closure. Usually when someone’s spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend goes missing, the one that is present is named as a suspect and is watched by undercover agents. Also questioned by detectives and police but Dale wasn’t very cooperative and refused the polygraph test.
My other concern includes the searching of Michelle Parkers hummer that they found abandoned at a “Walden Palm Apartment Complex” allegedly. From the articles I read the detectives never disclosed of their findings from searching her vehicle. There should have been hair samples or other dna that matched the victim since it was her car and some dna that matched someone else that probably drove the car to that loation. Some journalist pointed out that the decal that was on the side and back of her vehicle were removed. The decal read “GLOW” because it advertised her mobile tanning salon business. There should have been evidence in her car since it’s unknown if she returned to her vehicle after dropping off her kids to the dad’s house. Plus, not a word about surveillance in the area her hummer was found to see who parked it there and exited the vehicle. I mean someone had to exit that vehicle after parking it there! That remains a mystery.
Another huge disturbing fact about this case is that her cell phone was found under a bridge and submerged in the water. Dale says he went to his parents house shortly after Michelle dropped their kids off at his house. Well, guess what? This bridge and body of water are between Dale’s house and his parents house. In fact, at 4:26pm Michelle’s brother texted her asking “Where are you?” because the family hadn’t heard from her in hours. Her oldest son from a previous relationship was calling around asking for his mother which is Michelle. Whoever had Michelle’s phone texted back “Waterford” to answer the question that her brother texted to her phone. That made her family even more suspicious because the replied message of ‘Waterford” didn’t match the way Michelle would have normally answered a question like that. Furthermore, I truly believe the cell phone tower that picked up the signal of the last message received on Michelle’s phone was near this bridge and water. Also it makes sense that whoever used her phone could have thrown it into the water right then and there.
I feel for verbal and domestic violence victims whether they are men or women. Problems should be talked out and if that doesn’t work try counseling. Separations will be sad for the children but sometimes are necessary. I hope and pray judges take restraining order requests more seriously with a bit more leniency. It’s hard to prove the violence a person has suffered in a lot of cases. In conclusion, I agree with Michelle’s step mother Gayle, who stated “We don’t want to make accusations, we just want the truth”.
Citations
I like to add that the sources used in this article are from WFTV 9, Daily Mail, Wesh 2, HLN via Nancy Grace. Photo cred: Missing Love Persons