Missing NC woman found alive 24 years after disappearance
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A woman reported missing more than two decades ago has been located alive, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
Michelle Hundely Smith was reported missing on Dec. 31, 2001. At the time, authorities said she had been missing since Dec. 9, 2001. According to her husband, Smith left her home on Price Road in Eden to travel to a K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia, for Christmas shopping and never returned. She was 38 years old at the time of her disappearance.
The sheriff’s office said it launched an extensive investigation that drew assistance from multiple agencies in North Carolina and Virginia, including the State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Despite years of investigative work and numerous leads, Smith’s whereabouts remained unknown.
On Feb. 19, 2026, the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigations Division received new information related to the case. Detectives followed up on the lead and continued investigative efforts.
On Feb. 20, 2026, officers made contact with Smith at an undisclosed location in North Carolina. Authorities said she was found alive and well.
At Smith’s request, her current location will not be released. Her family has been notified that she has been located and informed of her request for privacy.
