Judge orders unsealing of arrest affidavit in Michelle Parker disappearance case

An Orange County judge has ordered the arrest affidavit for Dale Smith Jr. to be unsealed and made public, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Smith Jr. is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of his ex-fiancée, Michelle Parker, who vanished in November 2011.

The judge's decision came after prosecutors requested the affidavit remain sealed to avoid prejudicing a potential jury pool, while the defense argued the case has been widely covered for years. The judge is also considering a gag order to prevent attorneys and law enforcement from discussing the case publicly, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando and WKMG News 6.

Michelle Parker disappeared after dropping off her children at Smith Jr.'s home. She was reported missing when she did not show up for work at a Sanford bar. Advances in digital forensics have recently helped investigators uncover new location data and communications relevant to the case, WKMG News 6 reported.

The judge has not set a specific date for when the affidavit will be released. A temporary gag order has been issued against the defense attorney to restrict comments on the case or the affidavit once it is made public, according to WKMG News 6.

This development marks a significant step in the long-running investigation into Parker's disappearance, which remains unsolved nearly 15 years later. The case continues to be closely followed by the Orlando community.