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Missing North Carolina mom who vanished 24 years ago is found alive living a secret life
A North Carolina mother who vanished without a trace more than two decades ago has been found alive — stunning her family.
Michele Lyn Hundley Smith was 38 years old when she disappeared in December 2001.
According to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, she left her home in Eden to go Christmas shopping at a Kmart in Virginia — and never returned.
Her sudden disappearance sparked immediate concern. At the time, authorities described the case as 'troubling,' launching a widespread search effort that stretched across North Carolina and Virginia.
Massive Search Effort Included FBI
Multiple law enforcement agencies — including the FBI — poured 'countless' hours into tracking down leads and searching for the missing mother of three.
Investigators pursued numerous avenues, desperate to determine what had happened after she left for what should have been a routine holiday shopping trip.
A missing person flyer distributed during the investigation warned that Smith should be considered “endangered” and emphasized that she 'would not leave her kids by choice.'
Despite years of searching, the case went cold — until now.
Found ‘Alive and Well’ After Tip-Off
Nearly 24 years later, authorities confirmed that Smith has been located.
On Friday, officers received a tip that ultimately led them to find her 'alive and well' at an undisclosed location in North Carolina, officials announced.
While her precise whereabouts have not been made public, police confirmed that her family has been notified.
The revelation has left loved ones grappling with a wave of emotions.
Family Reacts: 'She’s alive, she’s alive'
Barbara Byrd, Smith’s cousin, shared her shock and relief in an interview with WFMYNews 2.
“I kind of want to go outside and scream, ‘She’s alive, she’s alive” Byrd said.
But alongside the relief comes a flood of unanswered questions.
“My biggest question is to her … what happened all those years ago in December? What made you leave? What happened?” Byrd said.
Despite the decades of uncertainty, Byrd revealed she never truly believed Smith had died.
“I never thought Michele was dead. I knew she was alive. It’s just a feeling that I had my whole life,” she said.
Daughter Speaks Out in Emotional Facebook Statement
The emotional toll of the discovery has also been deeply felt by Smith’s children.
In a lengthy statement posted to Facebook on Sunday, one of her children described the past few days as overwhelming.
She didn’t shy away from sharing the complicated mix of feelings she’s experiencing.
“As far as my opinions and feelings on my mom…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?” she said in the statement posted on a Facebook account dedicated to finding her missing mother.
“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,” she wrote.
Even amid the pain and uncertainty, she reflected on the memories that still matter.
“When my mom was a part of my daily life, she showed me a love and bond that will never ever be forgotten.
"There were mother-daughter arguments of course, but right now all I can remember are the smiles we shared, the times together that were happy, and the love I felt!”
While Smith has now been located, one major question remains unanswered: why did she leave?
Authorities have not disclosed any information regarding her motive for disappearing in 2001, and it is not immediately clear what circumstances led to her decades-long absence.