Disturbing causes mother of three vanished for twenty-four years earlier than turning up alive

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A North Carolina mother reported lacking greater than twenty years in the past and not too long ago discovered alive was coping with a tumultuous marriage and scuffling with alcohol abuse, in keeping with her daughter.

Michele Lyn Hundley Smith disappeared with a hint in Dec. 2001 and was till final week an unsolved lacking individual’s case. The lady, now 62, was located Feb. 20 in North Carolina after detectives obtained new details about her case.

In a 2018 interview on "The Vanished Podcast," her daughter Amanda Hundley mentioned that her mom’s marriage was unraveling below the load of alcohol abuse, infidelity and escalating marital arguments.

Smith, then 38, left her house Dec. 9, 2001, telling her household she was going Christmas shopping in close by Martinsville, Virginia. She by no means returned. For years, her daughter believed her mom had merely walked away.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_03.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_03.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_03.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_03.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Michelle Hundely Smith disappeared after leaving her house in North Carolina to go Christmas buying in Virginia in December 2001. (Carry Michelle Hundely Smith Dwelling/Fb)

Smith had not too long ago misplaced her job at a veterinary apply after being fired for drinking on the job , Hundley mentioned.

"My dad didn’t like the truth that my mother hid her ingesting. I knew about it, and I used to be the one one, and I felt, you realize, I used to be younger, and I felt obligated to not say something to betray my mother," Hundley mentioned on the podcast.

In line with Hundley, her father suspected the ingesting however didn't absolutely perceive the extent of it till after Smith vanished.

"He mentioned, ‘Have you learnt the place she stored the bottles at?’ And I confirmed them we had a bit purple constructing exterior, and it was stuffed with rum bottles, the empties, those that she had already drunk," Hundley recalled. She was 14 on the time.

Lacking mother discovered alive after 24 years reveals she left on account of home points. (Carry Michelle Hundely Smith Dwelling/Fb)

The couple’s relationship had additionally deteriorated. Hundley mentioned each of her dad and mom had affairs through the marriage. She described frequent arguments that "obtained bodily just a few occasions."

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Web page informed Fox Information Digital that there have been no data of home abuse involving the couple.

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Within the months earlier than Smith disappeared, the couple have been not sleeping in the identical mattress, in keeping with Hundley. She mentioned her mom usually slept in a chair in the lounge whereas her father remained within the bed room.

"If she needed to go away my dad, that’s one factor, however to go away us, I simply don’t see it taking place," Hundley mentioned within the 2018 podcast episode.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_04.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_04.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_04.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_04.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> A lacking individuals flyer circulated on the time of Michelle Hundely Smith’s disappearance in December 2001. (Carry Michelle Hundely Smith Dwelling/Fb)

On Tuesday, Sheriff Web page mentioned that Smith informed police that she left her household on account of ongoing home points.

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"She relayed that she had left on her personal accord," Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Web page mentioned. "She did reference some home points. Once we made contact, she was secure."

Web page informed Fox Information Digital that he has spoken with the district legal professional's workplace and no felony fees will likely be filed.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/672/378/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_02.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1344/756/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_02.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/931/523/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_02.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/02/1862/1046/michelle-hundely-smith-missing-persons-north-carolina_02.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Michelle Hundely Smith was discovered dwelling a brand new life in North Carolina after disappearing 24 years in the past, in keeping with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Workplace. (Carry Michelle Hundely Smith Dwelling/Fb)

In a prolonged Facebook post on Feb. 22, her daughter Amanda Smith wrote that the final 48 hours have been a "whirlwind of feelings" for her household.

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"You're free to suppose no matter, in fact, simply please do not put them on the market for my household to see. Please respect my household bc [because] we're hurting and going by rather a lot," she wrote.

"My dad has been by so many accusations since all the way in which again then... Even earlier than social media was large, the place we liv[ing] in a small city, there have been many ppl [people] performing as if they only knew he was concerned... Effectively he wasn't! In fact, I by no means thought he was... My father has been by a lot and I need it made clear that whereas their marriage had issues (simply as many marriages undergo) that my mother didn't go away merely bc of a nasty marriage. Everyone seems to be entitled their opinions however please do not forget that my father has been confirmed harmless."