The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Michele Hundley Smith — who disappeared in 2001 at age 38 — has been located in North Carolina and is "safe and well." Smith has asked that her current whereabouts remain private, and her family has been notified. Sheriff Sam Page said Smith referenced "domestic issues" before leaving, though investigators have no prior records; detectives are reviewing the case with the district attorney. Family members expressed mixed emotions and uncertainty about future contact.
Mother Found After 24 Years — She’s Safe But Insists Her Location Stay Private
Michele Hundley Smith's disappearance prompted a decadeslong search by her family members. But after she was recently located "alive and well," law enforcement said, she still didn't want her family to know where she is.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this week that Michele Hundley Smith, who vanished in 2001 at age 38, has been located in North Carolina and described as "safe and well." Authorities say Smith has asked that her current whereabouts remain undisclosed to family and the public.
Sheriff Sam Page said Smith was found on Friday and that her family has been notified of her location and her privacy request. He added that Smith did not explicitly tell officers she did not want any contact from family members, but the sheriff’s office is not aware of any communication between Smith and her relatives since she was located.
Investigation Details and Timeline
According to the sheriff’s office and family accounts, Smith left her Rockingham County home after 8 p.m. on Dec. 9, 2001, saying she was going Christmas shopping in nearby Virginia. She was officially reported missing on Dec. 31, 2001. Sheriff Page said Smith mentioned there were "domestic issues" prior to her departure, but that the sheriff’s office has no records documenting those issues before she left.
Detectives are coordinating with the district attorney’s office and conducting a full review of the case to clarify the circumstances surrounding Smith’s disappearance and subsequent location.
Family Reaction
Smith is the mother of two daughters and a son. Her daughter Amanda Smith has long been the most visible family advocate keeping the case in the public eye. Over the years she criticized investigators and urged additional searches — including the woods between her family’s home and the Virginia shopping area her mother intended to visit the night she disappeared.
"My father has been through so much and I want it made clear that while their marriage had issues (just as many marriages go through) that my mom did not leave simply bc of a bad marriage," Amanda wrote on a Facebook page she created to keep attention on the case. "I am ecstatic, I am pissed, 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."
The family is processing a mix of relief and uncertainty after learning Michele Smith is alive but has chosen to keep her location private. Authorities emphasize they will continue reviewing the case and working with the district attorney to determine next steps.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
Help us improve.
