Daniel Traina (8 of Diamonds, Florida)

Summary of Daniel Traina (8 of Diamonds, Florida)

by Audiochuck

39m•August 12, 2026
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Overview of Daniel Traina (8 of Diamonds, Florida)

This episode of The Deck examines the mysterious disappearance of 49-year-old Daniel Traina of Lake Park, Florida, who vanished in May 2021 after leaving a 7-Eleven near his home. Daniel was a familiar local figure—tall, friendly, and well known in his community—but his life had recently become more unstable due to grief, addiction, financial strain, and the people surrounding him. Despite interviews, phone records, surveillance footage, and years of investigation, no one has been formally tied to his disappearance, and his fate remains unknown.

What Happened to Daniel Traina

  • Daniel Traina, 49, lived alone in a small house in Lake Park, Florida, after a divorce.
  • He was last seen on surveillance footage leaving a 7-Eleven on May 25, 2021, his birthday.
  • Days later, his family learned he was missing after his roommate, Roy Smith, filed a missing-person report.
  • Daniel had left behind:
    • his phone
    • his home
    • his car
    • and, ultimately, no clear digital trail after the 7-Eleven footage

The key mystery: Daniel appeared to walk out of the store and vanish, yet his ATM card was later attempted at a Chase ATM in Jupiter, nearly 10 miles away—an impossible distance to cover on foot in that timeframe.

Daniel’s Background and Decline

Family and Early Life

  • Daniel and his older brother David were close growing up.
  • The family moved from New Jersey to South Florida during the real estate boom.
  • Daniel eventually built a life that looked stable on the surface:
    • real estate work early on
    • later email marketing
    • marriage and three children
    • a paid-off home in Lake Park

Personal Struggles

After his mother died in 2019, Daniel seemed to spiral further:

  • grief over the loss of his mother
  • the isolation of COVID
  • heavy drinking and possible drug use
  • loss of his job during the pandemic
  • mounting financial problems

David says Daniel hid how bad things were getting, though he tried to help by bringing him food and encouraging him to get treatment.

The Timeline of the Disappearance

May 25, 2021

  • David spoke to Daniel on his birthday and said he sounded normal.
  • Daniel said he planned to have a few drinks and lunch with friends.

That Night

  • Daniel reportedly spent time at a friend Mike Carpinella’s house.
  • He appeared sweaty, disorganized, and paranoid.
  • He mentioned leaving his phone at home and claimed someone was after him for sleeping with “his wife” or “his girlfriend.”

After Leaving Mike’s House

  • Daniel took an Uber.
  • He asked to be dropped at 7-Eleven instead of home.
  • In store footage, he:
    • tried twice to get cash from an ATM
    • attempted to buy a candy bar with a different card, which was also declined
    • walked out toward the gas pump area and disappeared from view

Later That Night

  • Daniel’s debit card was attempted at an ATM in Jupiter, Florida.
  • The card was declined.
  • No usable ATM camera footage was recovered.

Important People in the Case

Roy Smith

  • Daniel’s roommate, a disabled veteran.
  • Roy reported Daniel missing.
  • David found Roy and others living in the home in poor conditions when he arrived.
  • Roy gave multiple explanations for Daniel’s absence:
    • Daniel had a drug problem
    • he owed people money
    • he feared someone who wanted to hurt him
  • David believed Roy acted as though the house belonged to him after Daniel disappeared.

Sam Perry

  • Roy’s elderly uncle, also staying in the home.
  • No direct evidence tied him to Daniel’s disappearance.

Shawanda Alvin

  • A woman Daniel had a toxic relationship with.
  • Roy said there was drug activity connected to her visits to the house.
  • Police found no evidence tying her to the disappearance.

Richna Nichols

  • Lived near Daniel and had been intimate with him shortly before he disappeared.
  • She sent provocative photos to Daniel.
  • She was cooperative with investigators, but no evidence tied her to the case.

“John Bro” / John Lee Smith

  • A mysterious name found in Daniel’s text messages.
  • The text said, “You mess with my girl, I’m going to kill you.”
  • Investigators later identified “John Bro” as John Lee Smith.
  • John said the message referred to a woman named Alina, not a real threat.
  • Investigators ultimately did not view him as a likely suspect.

Alina DiMarchi

  • The woman at the center of the “John Bro” text dispute.
  • She had an on-and-off relationship with Daniel since around 2018.
  • David said they were once engaged and she had been pregnant with twins.
  • She later called Daniel’s sister to say Daniel had been missing for days.
  • No evidence linked her to the disappearance.

Investigation Findings

Digital and Physical Evidence

  • Daniel’s phone showed he went to Staples to buy a router before returning home.
  • The phone stayed at his house after that.
  • No note or obvious signs of struggle were found at home.
  • A Blue Star search did not reveal hidden blood evidence.
  • The only major digital anomaly was the attempted ATM use in Jupiter.

Detectives’ Theory

Investigators believe Daniel did not simply wander off:

  • someone likely met him near the 7-Eleven
  • he may have been taken by car to the Jupiter ATM
  • the area near the ATM is remote, marshy, and wooded, making concealment possible

Still, detectives have never identified a suspect or proven what happened after he walked out of the store.

Key Takeaways

  • Daniel’s disappearance is highly suspicious because of the near-total lack of trace evidence.
  • His personal life had become unstable in the months before he vanished.
  • Multiple people in his orbit had complicated relationships with him, but none have been tied to the case.
  • The attempted ATM use in Jupiter remains one of the strongest clues.
  • The case is still open, and investigators believe someone knows what happened.

Ongoing Impact and Family Appeal

David Traina remains determined to find answers:

  • He continues pushing for attention on the case.
  • Daniel’s dog, Toby, now lives with David and serves as a painful reminder of his missing brother.
  • The family has not given up hope.

Tip Line

Anyone with information is urged to contact:

  • Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office: 561-688-4000
  • Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County: CrimeStoppersPBC.com

Note on the Episode Format

This episode includes promotional ads and cross-promotions for other podcasts, but the central focus is Daniel Traina’s disappearance and the unresolved question of who last saw him—and what happened after he left 7-Eleven.