North Carolina mom missing 24 years is found alive and search for Today’s Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom Nancy Guthrie continues with new leads.
Michele Hundley Smith reunited with family after 24 years while search for Nancy Guthrie continues (Photo: X)
A North Carolina woman, who disappeared almost twenty five years ago is located alive. The news is another high-profile missing person case of Nancy Guthrie who is the mother of NBC Savannah Guthrie, which has not been solved yet. The opposition between the conclusion and the continued uncertainty underlines the difference in the way in which these situations can be developed.
Michelle Hundley Smith was 38 years old and mother of three who lived in Eden, North Carolina, when she vanished in late 2001 and her case was a mystery with national overtones that persisted over time with law enforcement and family members wanting to find out what happened.
On December 9, 2001, Smith went out of her home to shop during the holidays at a Kmart in Virginia and never came back. A person missing alert was declared and other agencies such as the FBI followed leads over the years, however, to no avail at the time when she vanished, her children were 19, 14 and 7.
The official report on the items by the Rockingham County Sheriff indicates that Smith was reported to have gone missing more than 24 years ago when she was reported missing at the end of December 2001 after she missed her home after her errands. The case was handled with urgency by the law enforcement who explained that she was in danger considering that she is close to her children.
Her family is torn between happiness and sadness over the reappearance of Smith. Her one child wrote that the past several days had been a whirlwind of relief, anger and heartbreak. They admitted that it is difficult to be connected after being separated by decades and at the same time they accepted that the mother is just a human being.
On February 20, 2026, authorities confirmed that Smith, now 62 years old was located alive in North Carolina at an undisclosed location and her current whereabouts remain confidential at her request and family members were informed privately. Details about why she disappeared are still unknown.
Though her exact location is being kept private, Smith is safe and with relatives, Family members, including her cousin, expressed both joy and unanswered questions, especially what led her to leave her life and loved ones behind.
1. Is Michelle Hundley Smith safe now?
Yes, she has been found alive and well in North Carolina, though her exact location is private.
2. How long was Smith missing?
She was missing for about 24 years before being located in February 2026.
3. What happened to Nancy Guthrie?
Nancy Guthrie remains missing; authorities believe she was kidnapped from her Arizona home in early 2026.
4. Are there any suspects in the Guthrie case?
No suspects have been publicly identified yet, and family members have been cleared.
5. What can the public do?
Officials urge anyone with credible information on Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement.
