ORLANDO, Fla. – The ex-fiance of a woman now missing for nearly five years invoked his constitutional rights during a deposition Thursday in the wrongful death lawsuit against him.
Orlando police investigators said Michelle Parker disappeared in November 2012 on the same day an episode of "The People's Court" featured her and her ex-fiance, Dale Smith.
She and Smith were fighting over a missing engagement ring.
Investigators said they consider Smith a suspect in Parker's disappearance, but they haven't arrested or charged him with anything.
Parker's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Smith in 2013, which they told News 6 they hoped would force him to reveal what he knew about her disappearance.
"As a lawyer -- irrespective of whether I think my client is innocent or guilty -- if he is a suspect in the eyes of the police, then my job is to protect his rights," said Smith's attorney, Steve Calvacca.
Calvacca told News 6 on Thursday Smith used his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions at the risk of incriminating himself several times during a closed-door deposition.
He said that included when attorneys asked him what he knew about the disappearance of Parker.
Parker's family wouldn't comment on what happened during the deposition. They would only repeat their plea to anyone who may know what happened to Parker -- call Orlando police with their information.