People's Court Judge Speaks Out on Michelle Parker's Case as Ex Faces Murder Charge

Judge Marilyn Milian reflects on Michelle Parker case

Fifteen years after 33-year-old Florida mother Michelle Parker vanished without a trace, new developments have emerged in the cold case. Dale Smith Jr., Parker's former fiancé, was arrested and faces a second-degree murder charge. In light of the arrest, Judge Marilyn Milian has broken her silence.

Parker went missing on November 17, 2011, hours after a prerecorded episode of The People's Court featuring Parker and Smith aired. The pair had appeared before Milian to resolve a dispute concerning an engagement ring.

Judge questions potential warning signs

In an October 15, 2026, conversation with Inside Edition, 65-year-old Judge Milian stated that she and the show's staff were devastated upon learning of Parker's disappearance. Milian noted that the staff struggled with whether anything during the appearance could have hinted at the events that followed.