North Carolina Mom Found Alive 24 Years After Disappearance, Then Taken Into Custody
A North Carolina mother who vanished in 2001 has been found alive after 24 years, but new developments have added another chapter to the long-running mystery.
Michele Hundley Smith, now 62, was located in North Carolina earlier this month after detectives received new information about her whereabouts. On February 20, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office announced that Sgt. A. Disher and Detective C. Worley had made contact with Smith at an undisclosed location.
“Sgt. A. Disher and Detective C. Worley made contact with Michele Hundley Smith at an undisclosed location within North Carolina, alive and well,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “At her request, her current whereabouts will remain undisclosed.”
Her family was notified that she had been located. Authorities said Smith requested that her location remain private.
Arrest on Outstanding 2001 Warrant
Days after the announcement that she had been found, authorities confirmed that Smith was arrested on an outstanding warrant dating back to 2001.
According to a February 26 statement from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, Smith was arrested by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office for failing to appear in court on a driving while intoxicated charge issued by the Eden Police Department in November 2001. Court records show the missed court date occurred in December 2001, around the time she disappeared.
The arrest took place on February 25. Smith posted bond and has since been released. A hearing is scheduled for March 26. It is unclear whether she has retained legal counsel.
Captain Jonathan Cheek of the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office has reiterated the details of the arrest to various news outlets.
What Happened in December 2001
Smith was 38 years old when she left her home in Eden, North Carolina, on December 9, 2001. Her family said she left around 8:30 p.m. to go Christmas shopping at a K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia, approximately 17 miles away.
She never returned home.
Her husband reported her missing on December 31, 2001. An extensive investigation followed. Over the years, multiple agencies joined the search, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The sheriff’s office continued to publicize the case in 2020 and 2021, offering a cash reward for information.
How She Was Found
Sheriff Sam Page previously told USA TODAY that authorities received an alert on February 19 through the National Crime Information Center, a national database that allows law enforcement agencies to share missing persons and criminal information.
According to Page, another agency entered information regarding Smith, which triggered a notification to officials in Rockingham County.
When asked whether Smith had been living under a new identity, Page said that, as far as he knew, she had not. He suggested it was more likely she had recently signed up for some type of service that prompted the database alert.
Authorities have not disclosed further details about where she had been living during the past two decades.
Family Reacts to Stunning News
Smith’s daughter, Amanda, shared her emotional response on social media after learning her mother was alive.
“I am ecstatic, I am pissed, I am heartbroken, I am all over the map!” Amanda wrote. “Will I have a relationship once more with my mom? Honestly I can’t answer that because 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.”
Smith’s cousin, Barbara Byrd, told WFMY that she felt a mix of relief and disbelief.
“I kind of want to go outside and scream, ‘She’s alive, she’s alive,’” Byrd said. “My biggest question is to her … What happened all those years ago in December? What made you leave? What happened?”
“I understand and respect that she doesn’t want any of us to contact her. I’m not angry,” Byrd added. “The biggest answer I had today was she was alive. Nothing else matters right at this moment.”
Unanswered Questions Remain
While Smith’s arrest sheds light on one unresolved legal issue from 2001, it does not explain why she disappeared in the first place.
Her departure came just days before a missed court appearance tied to the DWI charge. Whether that played a role in her decision to leave remains unclear.
For 24 years, her family searched for answers. Now they know she is alive. They also know she does not want contact.
The legal case will move forward in March. The deeper questions about what happened in December 2001 may remain unanswered.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.