DCF Ordered To Hand Over Missing Orlando Woman's Twins

ORLANDO (CBSMiami/ AP) – The state's Department of Children and Families has been ordered to turn over the children of a missing Orlando woman to her former fiancé who police consider the prime suspect in her disappearance.

Wednesday's emergency custody hearing came one day after DCF removed Michelle Parker's 3-year-old twins from the home of their father 40-year-old Dale Smith. The children had been staying with him since Parker disappeared.  DCF said they removed the twins because they believed the children were in danger from Smith because of a pattern of abuse toward them and Parker.

During the hearing, the judge ruled that DCF did not have enough evidence to hold the children and ordered that they be returned to Smith.

Orlando's police chief said Smith is the focus of the investigation into Parker's disappearance on Nov. 17. That was the same day an episode of "The People's Court" aired in which Parker and Smith argued over whom was responsible for the cost of a missing engagement ring. Smith, a roofing contractor, had sued Parker for the value of the ring.

Smith has not been charged in the case.

Attorney Mark NeJame said Smith is asking for the missing-persons search group Texas Equusearch to help look for Parker. NeJame said his client is declining to take a lie detector test because it's unreliable and not because he is hiding anything.

"If this doesn't ring as a testament to a man who is not guilty, I don't know what does," NeJame said. "Mr. Smith wants Michelle found. Now what guilty person is asking for a search to be conducted? If she is found alive or not, he knows that will exonerate him."

NeJame was the attorney for Casey Anthony's parents for a time and also represented Tiger Woods after the 2009 car accident that preceded a sex scandal involving the golfer. NeJame also represented Texas Equusearch in the Anthony case.

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