NC Mom Missing for 24 Years Reunites With Daughter

Amanda Smith embraces her mother Michele Hundley Smith after decades-long disappearance.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:30pm

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After 24 years, a North Carolina woman named Amanda Smith has reunited with her mother, Michele Hundley Smith, who went missing in December 2001. Michele was located in February 2026 and was arrested over a decades-old failure to appear in court tied to a 2001 DWI charge. Amanda was by her mother's side for the arraignment, saying "Life's too short for me to hold a grudge" and that she wants her mom in her life.

Why it matters

This story highlights the emotional toll and lifelong impact that a parent's disappearance can have on a child. It also raises questions about why Michele Hundley Smith chose to remain missing for so long, even from her own family, and the legal consequences she now faces for her actions.

The details

In December 2001, Michele Hundley Smith, then 38 years old, told her family she was going Christmas shopping at a Kmart in Martinsville, Virginia, but never returned home. Authorities say she left on her own amid "domestic issues" and for years did not want her whereabouts disclosed, even to her family. A tip led deputies to locate Michele alive and well in North Carolina in February 2026. Days after being found, she was arrested over a decades-old failure to appear in court tied to a 2001 DWI charge.

  • Michele Hundley Smith went missing in December 2001.
  • She was located by authorities in February 2026.
  • Michele was arrested over a decades-old failure to appear in court tied to a 2001 DWI charge.
  • Amanda Smith and her mother were reunited on the steps of a North Carolina courthouse on March 27, 2026.

The players

Amanda Smith

The daughter of Michele Hundley Smith who was reunited with her mother after 24 years.

Michele Hundley Smith

A North Carolina woman who went missing in December 2001 and was located by authorities in February 2026, leading to her reunion with her daughter.

Rockingham County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that investigated Michele Hundley Smith's disappearance and ultimately located her 24 years later.

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What they’re saying

“Life's too short for me to hold a grudge. We only get one life, and I want my mom in it.”

— Amanda Smith

What’s next

Michele Hundley Smith is due back in court on April 23, 2026 to address the decades-old DWI charge that led to her arrest after being located.

The takeaway

This story underscores the profound impact that a parent's sudden disappearance can have on a child, even decades later. While the reasons behind Michele Hundley Smith's decision to remain missing for so long are still unclear, her reunion with her daughter Amanda highlights the power of family bonds and the importance of cherishing the time we have with our loved ones.