Joe Iuzzolino, an attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families, told Judge Turner today that Smith had displayed abusive and criminal behavior on multiple occasions since 1992 that included him striking Ms Parker in front of the children in 2009
But with no evidence that Smith had abused the children, the judge wasn't persuaded that they should be removed from his care. The children have been living with Smith and his parents since the 33-year-old Parker disappeared.
The judge said: 'I don't think incidents that happened years ago constitute a pattern.'
As to Ms Parker's disappearance, the judge said: 'I can speculate like everyone else what's happened to Miss Parker. But there's no evidence.'