After 24 years missing, mom of three who disappeared before Christmas is found hale and hearty

A woman who vanished over two decades ago while going out for holiday shopping has been found safe, bringing a long-running mystery to a surprising conclusion.

According to authorities, a North Carolina mother who disappeared 24 years ago has been discovered “alive and well.” On Feb. 20, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Michele Hundley Smith, now 62, had been found after investigators “received new information” in regard to her disappearance.

Officials stated that they made contact with Smith at an undisclosed place within North Carolina and confirmed she was “alive and well.” At her request, her present location will stay confidential. Authorities further confirmed that her family has been notified and informed about her wish for privacy.

The Night She Disappeared

Michele was 38 years old when she went missing. On December 9, 2001, she departed her residence in Stoneville, North Carolina, informing her family she intended to travel approximately 17 miles to Martinsville, Virginia, to purchase Christmas presents at a Kmart. She never came back.Her husband reported her missing later that month, on Dec. 31, 2001, investigators stated.

At that time, Michele was a mother of three. Her oldest daughter, 19, was already residing independently. Her younger children, 14-year-old Amanda and her almost eight-year-old brother, awoke the next morning to know that their mother had not come home.

In earlier interviews, Amanda explained the last moments she saw her mother that night. Talking to Dateline, as quoted by NBC News, she remembered Michele kissing the children goodnight and leaving almost 8:30 p.m. Amanda said it was not unusual for her mother to shop in the evening or make the short, approximately 30-minute drive to Martinsville.

The family “expected her back within a couple of hours,” but when their father woke at around 12:30 a.m., Michele was still absent.

Amanda later mirrored how this situation felt different from earlier short departures.

“She had left before, like if they had an argument or something, but would just go to my grandma’s house and come back the next day. But this was different. She wasn’t at my grandma’s. She wasn’t anywhere."

Years of Searching

Following Michele’s disappearance, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office launched local searches. However, there was no trace of Michele or the family's 1995 Pontiac Trans Sport van.

Over the years, detectives continued to be involved in the case, stated by Amanda as being “in and out” of the family's lives for “years after.” Meanwhile, family members worked relentlessly to maintain public attention and increase awareness regarding the case.In 2020, marking the 20-year anniversary of her disappearance, the sheriff’s office published another public appeal seeking details about “missing person” Michele Lyn Hundley Smith.

Currently, deputies say a break came through fresh information shared via a nationwide law enforcement network, leading to Michele’s location. Officials have mentioned that they do not anticipate to file any charges.

Family Reactions: Relief and Unanswered Questions

While Michele has been confirmed alive in North Carolina,reports suggest she has requested that no one reveal her precise location. The news has ignited emotions among family members.

Barbara Byrd, Michele’s cousin, told WFMY News 2: “I kind of want to go outside and scream, 'She's alive, she's alive.'”

Holding back tears, Barbara stated knowing Michele is “alive” is what “matters right now.” Still, she acknowledged there are lingering questions about what may have “made” Michele “leave” all those years ago.

“What happened?” she asked, echoing the uncertainty several still have.

Michele’s daughter also addressed the public via the Facebook page “Bring Michele Hundley Smith Home.” She wrote to “thank everyone for their support and their love,” while admitting the conflicting emotions she is going through.

Describing the previous few days as a “whirlwind,” she asked supporters to “leave [their] accusations and assumptions” and to “respect” their “hurting” family. She also defended her father from rumors before sharing her deeply personal feelings:

"As far as my opinions and feelings on my mom... I am ecstatic, I am p*ssed, I am heartbroken, I am all over the map! Will I have a relationship once more with my mom? Honestly I can't answer that bc I don't even know...

"My initial reaction would be yes absolutely but then I think of all the hurt... But even then ... My mom is only human just as we all are."

FAQs:

Q1. Who was missing in this case?
Michele Hundley Smith, a North Carolina mother of three, disappeared in 2001. She has now been located alive.

Q2. When did she go missing?
She vanished on December 9, 2001. Her disappearance was officially reported later that month.