ORLANDO, Fla. -- Michelle Parker of Orlando disappeared in November 2011, and now the only suspect in her disappearance is facing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Parker's mother filed the suit against Dale Smith, her daughter’s ex-fiance and the father of her two children.
More than a year ago, Michelle Parker appeared on People’s Court with Smith. Hours after the program aired nationally, she disappeared.
Soon afterward, Orlando police named Smith the prime suspect in the case, and on Thursday, Parker's mother filed a wrongful death complaint against him.
However, Smith has not been arrested and still has custody of the children.
Channel 9’s Kathi Belich learned the lawsuit was filed as police said they’re still trying to figure out what happened to Parker.
Orlando detectives have not given up but have run out of leads in the search for Parker’s body and how she was killed.
The lawsuit claims Parker died "as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the defendant" and goes on to say had Smith not been "negligent or otherwise committed a wrongful act, there would not have been any injuries or damages sustained by Parker.
The lawsuit said Parker died on or about Nov. 17, 2011, the day the People's Court show aired.
Police found her cellphone in an Orange County lake, and they searched Smith's father's Orange County home, but no charges have been filed and no arrest has been made.
