North Carolina Mom Missing for 24 Years Found Alive

Michele Hundley Smith requests privacy after being located in North Carolina

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A North Carolina woman named Michele Hundley Smith, who went missing 24 years ago while on a Christmas shopping trip, has been found alive. The 62-year-old woman was located by authorities in an undisclosed location within North Carolina and has requested that her current whereabouts remain private. Smith's family has been notified of her discovery, but many questions remain unanswered about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance over two decades ago.

Why it matters

Smith's disappearance and reappearance after 24 years is an incredibly rare and remarkable case that has captivated the local community. Her family and authorities are seeking answers about what happened during the decades she was missing, while also respecting her desire for privacy. This case highlights the complex emotions and uncertainties that can arise when a long-missing person is finally found alive.

The details

On December 9, 2001, 38-year-old Michele Hundley Smith left her home in Eden, North Carolina to go Christmas shopping at a K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia, about 17 miles away. She never returned home, prompting her husband to report her missing at the end of that month. An extensive investigation involving the FBI, DEA, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation ensued, but Smith remained missing for 24 years. On February 19, 2026, detectives received a new tip about Smith's location and were able to make contact with her the following day at an undisclosed location within North Carolina. They confirmed she was alive and well, but Smith requested that her current whereabouts be kept private, which the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office has honored.

  • On December 9, 2001, Smith went missing while on a Christmas shopping trip.
  • Her husband reported her missing at the end of December 2001.
  • On February 19, 2026, detectives received a new tip about Smith's location.
  • On February 20, 2026, detectives confirmed Smith was alive and well at an undisclosed location in North Carolina.

The players

Michele Hundley Smith

A 62-year-old woman who went missing 24 years ago while on a Christmas shopping trip and has now been found alive in North Carolina.

Amanda

Smith's daughter, who created a Facebook page in 2018 to collect tips about her mother's disappearance.

Barbara Byrd

Smith's cousin, who spoke publicly and repeatedly over the years to keep the case alive.

Rockingham County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that located Smith and is honoring her request for privacy regarding her current whereabouts.

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What they’re saying

“I am ecstatic, I am p***ed, 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 because I don't even know.”

— Amanda, Smith's daughter (Social media)

“I kind of want to go outside and scream, 'She's alive, she's alive.' My biggest question is to her — what happened all those years ago in December? What made you leave? What happened?”

— Barbara Byrd, Smith's cousin (WFMY News)

“I understand and respect that she doesn't want any of us to contact her. I'm not angry. The biggest answer I had today was she was alive. Nothing else matters right at this moment.”

— Barbara Byrd, Smith's cousin (WFMY News)

What’s next

The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office has not indicated whether any further investigation into the circumstances of Smith's original disappearance is planned. Smith herself has offered no public statement.

The takeaway

This remarkable case of a missing person being found alive after 24 years highlights the complex emotions and uncertainties that can arise when a long-lost loved one is rediscovered. While Smith's family is relieved to know she is alive, they are still seeking answers about what happened during her decades-long disappearance, while also respecting her desire for privacy.