Daughter of NC woman found alive after 24 years says emotions are 'all over the map'

Amanda Smith wants reunion with mother Michele Hundley Smith, who vanished in 2001.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The daughter of a North Carolina woman who resurfaced after vanishing more than two decades ago has said she wants a reunion with her mother, despite her conflicted emotions. Amanda Smith, 38, said she is 'ecstatic, I am pissed, I am heartbroken' after her mother Michele Hundley Smith was tracked down to an undisclosed location in North Carolina, 24 years after she disappeared in December 2001.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex emotions and challenges that can arise when a missing person is found after decades, as the family must navigate rebuilding relationships and coming to terms with the past.

The details

Michele Hundley Smith went missing in 2001 at the age of 38, after leaving her home in Eden, North Carolina to go Christmas shopping. At the time, a missing person flyer described her as 'endangered' and said she 'would not leave her kids by choice.' The exact circumstances behind her discovery a quarter of a century later were not disclosed, but after officers received a tip, she was found 'alive and well.'

  • Michele Hundley Smith went missing in December 2001.
  • She was found 'alive and well' 24 years later.

The players

Amanda Smith

The 38-year-old daughter of Michele Hundley Smith, who was found alive after going missing for 24 years.

Michele Hundley Smith

A North Carolina woman who went missing in 2001 at the age of 38, but was recently found 'alive and well' after 24 years.

Sam Page

The Rockingham County Sheriff who provided details about Michele Hundley Smith's disappearance and reappearance.

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What they’re saying

“As far as my opinions and feelings on my mom… I am ecstatic, I am pissed, I am heartbroken, I am all over the map!”

— Amanda Smith, Daughter of Michele Hundley Smith (Facebook)

“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.”

— Amanda Smith, Daughter of Michele Hundley Smith (Facebook)

“Michele told law enforcement she left her three children 'due to ongoing domestic issues at the time.'”

— Sam Page, Rockingham County Sheriff (PEOPLE)

What’s next

The family will likely need time and support to navigate the complex emotions and challenges of reuniting after 24 years apart.

The takeaway

This case underscores the profound impact that long-term missing person cases can have on families, and the importance of providing resources and support to help them heal and rebuild relationships when a loved one is finally found.