'People's Court' Missing Mom: Police Search Home of Ex-Fiance's Dad in Michelle Parker Disappearance

Home, apparently Michelle Parker's ex-fiance's father's, searched by cops.

ByABC News
November 27, 2011, 9:01 AM

Nov. 27, 2011 — -- Police overnight searched an Orlando, Fla., home as they probed the disappearance 10 days ago of Michelle Parker, the mom who vanished the same day she and her ex-fiance aired a dispute on "The People's Court."

"Roughly 12 guys piled out, banged on the door, yelled 'search warrant, search warrant,' and basically took everybody out of the house," said Don Partin, a neighbor.

The home belongs to Dale Smith Sr., the father of Parker's ex-fiance, Dale Smith Jr., according to reports.

Late Saturday night, Smith Sr. was removed from the home with his hands in restraints, witnesses told ABC News affiliate WFTV, and the home's other occupants also were removed and restrained during the search. Two women, another man and some children also were taken out of the house, according to witnesses.

"They took everybody out, sat them in the yard," Partin said. "And then the cops went in, and the crime lab went in and pretty much everybody from all departments showed up."

It was not clear what sparked the search.

"All we know is that Michelle was not found in the home," said Lauren Erickson, Parker's sister. "Police are doing their job to the fullest and looking at all possibilities."

Smith Jr.'s condominium was similarly searched on Nov. 18.

Parker, 33, has been missing since Nov. 17, the day "The People's Court" aired an episode that exposed the tumultuous relationship between her and Smith Jr., the father of her two children.

Parker disappeared after she dropped her 3-year-old twins off at the Smith's house, the last place she was seen.

Police and Parker's parents have been saying Smith Jr. is not a suspect.

Appearing on the courtroom show, Parker and Smith battled over whether she had to pay for a $5,000 engagement ring she tossed away during one of their spats. The judge ruled the two should split the cost.

In the episode, the couple hurled accusations at each other and fought nastily. A court reporter called their relationship a "fatal attraction."

Parker's parents amped up their search for their daughter this weekend, even offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to her whereabouts.

That reward had an expiration date of today to motivate tipsters to act soon.

"If you know something, you know it," said Parker's mother, Yvonne Stewart.

Parker's mother wanted a time limit on the reward money to encourage people with tips to come forward immediately.

"She's worth millions of dollars to me and my family, but I think $50,000 is an awesome amount," Stewart said.

Earlier this week, Parker's family released her final voicemail and a new batch of photos in the hope that someone would recognize the missing mother of three.

Parker left a nine-second message for her father on the day before she vanished, asking him to call her.

"Anything families can do to keep their case in front of the media and the public, they should do," said Brad Garrett, an ABC News consultant and former FBI special agent.

Parker's family has conceded that Smith's relationship with Parker was volatile, but it has also described Smith as a dedicated and loving father who cared for Parker, even when the two didn't get along.