Authorities have reported that a mother from North Carolina, missing for 24 years, has been found alive, although they are keeping her exact location confidential.
Michelle Handley Smith, who was from Eden, was reported missing on December 31, 2001. Her family was naturally worried about her disappearance, as noted by a recent report. At the time she went missing, she was 38 and had left home a few days prior to go Christmas shopping in Martinsville, Virginia. When she didn’t come back, the search began.
The case garnered significant attention, prompting a coordinated search effort involving multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office stated, “For over two decades, we have been committed to finding answers. On February 19, 2026, we received new information about Michelle Handley-Smith’s disappearance.”
On February 20, investigators made contact with her at a location in North Carolina, and she requested that her whereabouts remain private. The family was informed that she had been found and understood her wishes.
Cousin Barbara Byrd had long hoped for news about Smith. After hearing she was alive, she exclaimed, “I feel like I want to go out and scream, ‘She’s alive, she’s alive!’” However, Byrd is also curious about the circumstances of her cousin’s disappearance, yet she respects Smith’s desire for privacy and hopes she will reach out to her family someday.
Amanda, Smith’s daughter, mentioned she was only recently notified and is still trying to grasp the news. She intends to issue a statement soon, expressing gratitude to those who supported the family throughout the years.
Meanwhile, a report indicated that there are currently over 26,000 missing persons cases in the United States, highlighting that “every missing person is important, regardless of how long ago they disappeared.”
