The father of Michelle Parker, a mother of three missing for more than two weeks, suspects her ex-fiancé has something to do with her disappearance.
“And, this goes to Dale. You’re number one. You can’t run and you can’t hide. And, we’re coming after you,” said Brad Parker, Michelle’s father, referring to Dale Smith, Jr.
“I know he did it. We just gotta prove it,” he added.
The Orlando Police Department last week officially named Smith, 40, as a suspect in Parker’s disappearance.
Brad Parker made the comments on Saturday night at a fundraiser to raise money for the search. He said he’s thankful for the support of the search for Parker, who vanished on Nov. 17, but said watching dive teams search an Orlando retention pond last week for his daughter nearly stopped his heart.
“When they went to the lakes, my heart went to my legs. But then they come back up and said they didn’t find anything, my heart started beating again,” he said.
The pond is located off Rose Boulevard near Tahiti Road in south Orlando, about two miles from Lake Ellenor, where authorities conducted a search on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, search teams explored a new area near State Road 520 by the Orange and Brevard county line. Again, search teams came up empty.
Despite that, Parker’s family refuses to give up hope.
“I have access to 300 more people on ATVs. Three-hundred more. That just goes to tell you there’s so many awesome people out there,” said Parker.
Rick Thomas, who has known Parker for 35 years, said the search is taking its toll.
“Well, you hear about other people and it doesn’t hit you. But, when it’s somebody that you know, someone that you love, it’s just really bad,” said Thomas.
Parker, 33, disappeared after dropping off her 3-year-old twins with Smith, who is the father of the children. The same day, an episode of “The People’s Court” aired nationwide featuring the couple in a dispute over a $5,000 engagement ring.
Parker also has an 11-year-old son from another relationship.
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