Prosecutors say Dale Smith Jr’s son went to Orlando police headquarters to ask whether his father was still a suspect in Michelle Parker’s disappearance less than two weeks before Smith was arrested on a second-degree murder charge.
The new details emerged in a court motion seeking to keep the arrest affidavit sealed while detectives complete outstanding witness interviews in the long-running case.
According to the filing, Smith’s son visited the Orlando Police Department on October 2 to ask about the investigation and whether his father remained under suspicion. Smith was arrested on October 14, nearly 15 years after Parker disappeared.
The motion also says investigators learnt on October 13 that Smith had bought an airline ticket with a departure date of October 16 and a return date of October 19. The destination was listed as “Columbia”, and prosecutors noted that the return booking could easily be cancelled.
Prosecutors said concerns that Smith might flee influenced the timing of the investigation. Police delayed interviews with certain witnesses until after he had been taken into custody, arguing that releasing the arrest affidavit beforehand could affect their accounts.
The state is asking a judge to keep the affidavit confidential until October 26. Investigators are due to complete interviews requiring travel to two locations outside Florida by October 25.
Smith’s lawyer, Rajan Joshi, has said the planned trip was a routine weekend visit to Colombia, where Smith has a romantic partner. He has also argued that the prosecution’s description of the travel arrangements leaves out important context.
“He was planning to go on Friday like he always does, come back on Sunday,” Mr Joshi told local media, describing it as an ordinary visit rather than an attempt to evade arrest.
Smith has pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence. His lawyer has reviewed the sealed, 46-page arrest affidavit and said it refers to recovered text messages and a recent interview with one of Smith’s acquaintances, but does not contain what he regarded as a decisive piece of evidence.
Parker disappeared on November 17, 2011, after taking the children she shared with Smith to his home in Orlando. Her remains have never been found, and police have said Smith was the last person known to see or speak to her.
Orlando police said a renewed examination of witness statements and advances in digital forensics helped investigators develop the case against Smith. He remains in custody without bond while the court considers the request to keep the arrest materials sealed.
