North Carolina woman missing since 2001 found alive, seeks privacy
(Michelle Hundely Smith (Credit: Missing poster))
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. - A North Carolina woman who was reported missing more than two decades ago has been found alive and well, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
The backstory:
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office received a missing persons report on Dec. 31, 2001, for Michelle Hundely Smith of Eden, North Carolina, who had last been seen on Dec. 9.
Her husband told authorities she left their home to go Christmas shopping at a K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia, and did not return.
She was 38 at the time.
Authorities quickly launched a wide-ranging investigation, and in the years that followed the case drew assistance from multiple agencies in North Carolina and Virginia, including the State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI.
Despite extensive investigative efforts and numerous leads, Smith’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
Dig deeper:
After more than 20 years of searching for answers, the sheriff’s office said a break in the case came Feb. 19, 2026, when investigators received new information about Smith’s disappearance. Detectives quickly pursued the lead, and the following day Sgt. A. Disher and Detective C. Worley located Smith at an undisclosed location in North Carolina, where she was found alive and well.
At her request, authorities said her exact whereabouts will not be released, though her family has been notified that she has been found.
What they're saying:
In a lengthy Facebook post, Smith’s daughter thanked supporters for their love and concern but urged the public to stop spreading accusations — particularly against her father, whom she said has been unfairly suspected for years and has now been proven innocent.
She said her family is overwhelmed and processing a wide range of emotions following her mother’s reappearance, from joy to anger and heartbreak, and asked that people respect their privacy and whatever decisions each family member makes about forgiveness and moving forward.
Emphasizing that "love is what it’s all about," she called for compassion and understanding as the family begins to heal.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release and Facebook post published by the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. This story was reported from Los Angeles.