Over Hell and Dale

November 17

Until I carefully studied a map of the areas where Dale Smith II lives, where Michelle Parker’s cell phone was found, where Dale’s parent’s live, and where Michelle’s Hummer H3 was found, I couldn’t really make a solid assessment of the particulars in the case. Everything was so spread out and information was sporadic at times. Now, it’s all becoming clear. Take the text message made from Michelle’s iPhone when her brother asked her where she was. The response was simple - one single word: Waterford.

Waterford is located in east Orlando, around the Colonial Drive (S.R. 50) and Alafaya Trail (S.R. 434) neighborhood. Most sources affirm that Michelle was not there; that it was a ploy to confuse law enforcement later on, after she was reported missing. If it did, it wasn’t for long.

The reference to Waterford came at 4:26 pm, moments after her brother, Dustin Erickson, asked for her location. Why that text message is so important is because it establishes that Michelle was not in control of her cell phone by that time. It means that sometime between 3:18, the time she dropped her twins off at Smith’s condo, and 4:26, just over an hour later, something happened to the pretty mother of 3 children.

Smith’s attorney, Mark NeJame, said that he had taken his children to visit their grandparents at 4:30, minutes after the ficticious text message. What transpired in his life between 3:18 and then is anyone’s guess.

We do know that the day Dale & Michelle’s legal row over a lost engagement ring appeared on The People’s Court, she was never seen again. How do we know? A security camera recorded her dropping off her twins at the condo just off Goldenrod Road. Because of the camera angle, her departure was not recorded and no one else reported seeing her subsequent to that time. Three minutes earlier, at 3:15, she and her boyfriend, Nathan Mitchell, exchanged flirty text messages. They had enjoyed breakfast together in the morning.

At the moment, I’m not going to second-guess anyone - not Mr. NeJame, Smith’s attorney - and certainly not law enforcement. While Dale Smith is innocent until a criminal court deems otherwise, if ever, the maps I’m providing sure do implicate him in a big way. What it looks like to me is that he is either very stupid for leaving a huge clue next to a bridge, along the most convenient path between his place and his parent’s, or someone else is setting him up to cause his macro-downfall from grace. Other than well documented anger management issues and run-ins with the law, nothing directly implicates him of any wrongdoing. However, in 2009, Michelle tried to obtain a restraining order against him, but it was denied due to lack of evidence.

Any way you look at it, assuming Dale Smith was somehow involved, where Michelle Parker’s vehicle was found sure does point to an accomplice, in my opinion. The drive from his parents to the drop off point is 3.5 miles. Something tells me the real perpetrator or accomplice did not walk away from there unless he/she lives nearby, within walking distance. There’s just too much traffic in Orlando to escape being seen, although the dark of night does offer a practical cover. Still, it’s a long walk, and remember, the longer a person is exposed to the public, the greater the odds of witnesses.

The Orlando Police Department is keeping tight-lipped about what it has, and rightfully so. My understanding is that it’s a lot, but not necessarily enough. In law enforcement’s favor at this time, because this is an ongoing investigation, is that Florida’s sunshine law does not apply. Not yet, anyway. Meanwhile, let’s hope Michelle’s iPhone and cell phone pings offer up enough evidence that justice will be done. Most of all, let’s pray for Michelle and her loved ones.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Maps courtesy of Google

Missing Michelle

I had to take care of a few things in the Sanford/Lake Mary area today, so I decided to stop by The Barn, a famous country music nightclub known for hosting some of the genre’s best artists. It’s right up the road a spell from where I live, but in the 30-plus years I’ve been here, I’ve never been there. I stopped by to take a couple of photos of the exterior to show you where Michelle Parker works as a bartender. Michelle, in case you are not aware, disappeared without a trace 2 weeks ago, on the day she and her ex-fiancé, Dale Smith II, appeared on a taped episode of The People’s Court. On that day, she dropped off the one-time couple’s 3-year-old twins at his residence and was never seen again. (Michelle also has an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.) The Orlando Police Department recently named Smith as the only suspect.

When I arrived at The Barn, two men were about to enter the establishment. I decided to walk up to them to explain why I was there. One seemed to be the in-charge, go-to person. I told him who I was and that my only intent was to do whatever I could to get her name out, not that I expected my site to do all that much, but you never know. Every little bit helps. He invited me in and said he would show me Michelle’s bar. This was about 3:30 and the bar doesn’t open for business until 6:00, so the interior wasn’t all that well lit. Certainly, it was enough to see how large it is inside. I told him I’d never set foot in the place, but I’ve always wanted to. We walked past a main bar and I could clearly see that it was big enough to accommodate several bars, and it does. The Website touts seven in all, including one in an upstairs loft that overlooks the dance floor.

I haven’t been hanging around any bars these days, but there’s an aroma that you can only detect inside a place that pours alcoholic beverages. I guess it’s from all of the liquor bottles and spilled drinks over the years. This place had no carpet that I recollect, so there was nothing to soak up the spilled drinks. Still, it was there. We walked all the way across to the other side, and there it was - where Michelle tends bar.

I could sense the anguish and desperation in this man’s heart. As a person in my position, that of a journalist, I asked him a few questions. He told me he couldn’t really say much, and I understood that. This is, after all, an ongoing investigation. He wasn’t really told by law enforcement to remain quiet, he said, but I know it would do no good for him to tell me his true thoughts of what went down. I told him I had read on one of the Orlando Sentinel threads where several people were stating that if it wasn’t her ex-boyfriend, it could surely have been someone who had been stalking her at the bar. Of course, there’s no really good reason or need for anyone to speculate like this. I did say it sure seemed strange that she would disappear on the same day the court segment aired. Yes, he said, and we mentioned another couple of peculiarities, but we left it at that, with neither of us voicing any sort of strong opinion one way or another.

He told me something that really stuck. He said that Michelle is a really good girl. By that, I knew exactly what he meant. She’s got it all. Aside from being very pretty, she’s a great friend, a loving mother, and an all-around caring soul. The girl has no enemies. She’s incredibly popular and none of it makes any sense, but it never does. I’ve never had someone I know go missing, nor have I ever felt that kind of frustration and helplessness. But throughout my years of dating and befriending many bartenders, their bosses always treated them like family. That’s precisely what this man was all about. It’s as if a chunk of his heart has been torn out, and to a person, his staff feels the same way. Everyone loves and misses Michelle.

I asked him if he managed or owned the bar. He told me he owns it. Eric Thims is his name. He’s a very proud man, and he’s doing whatever it takes to bring Michelle home. This is what’s posted on today’s Website:

PLEASE READ AND REPOST!!!!!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU MICHELLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight is Thirsty Thursday as always with all you can drink at The Barn in Sanford, but tonight it is about soooo much more than that! We are having a benefit to raise money for Michelle Parker. It will help the continued search efforts for her as well as her children and family.

Tonight we are having a Bartender Handoff where bartenders from all over Central Florida that know or have worked with Michelle in the past will stand in to support Michelle and work in her place. ALL TIPS raised on Michelle’s bar tonight will go directly to her family.

We are asking that anybody who has a Missing Person shirt with Michelles picture on it wears it tonight! We will have national coverage here like the Today Show and others and we want to be sure that Michelle’s face is EVERYWHERE that they turn their cameras!

So come show your support for Michelle with your shirt and checking out all the bartenders rotating through Michelles bar by the DJ booth. They will be happy to make you a drink and your tips will help bring this AMAZING woman home!

We have the following bartenders standing in for her tonight so come show some love!

Michelle’s sister Lauren
Michelle’s best friend Heather (from Manny’s Chophouse, and worked with Michelle at Cowboys)
Erica (from Hooter’s)
Jess (from Hooter’s)
Carrie (from Cowboys)
Brandi (from Lavish Photography, and formerly from The Barn)
April (The Barn)
Carrie (The Barn)
Dracy (The Barn)
Michelle W (The Barn)
Lisa (The Barn)
Erica (The Barn)
Krissi (The Barn)
Liz (The Barn)
John (The Barn)
Crystal (The Barn)
One Bartender from Rodeo’s in Mount Dora

And if any of her other previous co workers would like to join us we would still love to have you!

See you all there, come help us support Michelle!

Tomorrow night, there will be a silent auction. Local firemen will be auctioned off for dinner. So will Eric. Ladies only. Anyone willing to help out, please do. On Saturday, Dec. 10, a big benefit will also be held all day and night. I may try to attend for a few hours. I wish I could do more because this is eating away at me, too. I never met her, but she’s my neighbor and yours, because this happens every single day somewhere around the world, including your own back yard. Now, I do feel like I know her better. Look at all the countless hearts she’s touched.

Watch the Today Show for more on Michelle. Tim Miller from Texas EquuSearch arrived in Orlando today at the behest of Mark NeJame, who is representing Dale Smith.