Found Alive NC - Michele Lyn Hundley Smith, 38, Eden, 9 Dec 2001* found alive February 2026*

[Curious_in_NC]

I just watched that video and they did thoroughly search local waterways, despite the information they had received in the meantime about foul play.

I guess it depends. I would agree with you that their search of the Smith River in Virginia seemed thorough with maps and locations cited. Although there was mention of a couple of bridges in NC, 14 over the Smith and 700 over the Dan, it's not clear where, or how thoroughly, they searched in NC. The drone footage of them in the boat looked like the Dan River. The video sort of implied they did not want to interfere with an active investigation in NC.

 

[Andreee]

I guess it depends. I would agree with you that their search of the Smith River in Virginia seemed thorough with maps and locations cited. Although there was mention of a couple of bridges in NC, 14 over the Smith and 700 over the Dan, it's not clear where, or how thoroughly, they searched in NC. The drone footage of them in the boat looked like the Dan River. The video sort of implied they did not want to interfere with an active investigation in NC.

Yes, I watch AWP regularly and from what I've read or heard, they have run into difficulties or potential danger from getting involved in active investigations, so they are being more careful about that. That is why IMO they are very hesitant and careful when they say anything if they are unaware ahead of time about certain situations. Being family men, safety first.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Car of NC man reported missing 16 years ago found in Winston-Salem lake :: WRAL.com
"The group also helped police on Monday recover a second vehicle from Winston Lake, a minivan."

No further info on the minivan, but the remains of the man in the first car have been identified:
NC - NC - Dedrick Smith, 26, Winston-Salem, 3 October 2006

 

[Andreee]

Car of NC man reported missing 16 years ago found in Winston-Salem lake :: WRAL.com
"The group also helped police on Monday recover a second vehicle from Winston Lake, a minivan."

No further info on the minivan, but the remains of the man in the first car have been identified:
NC - NC - Dedrick Smith, 26, Winston-Salem, 3 October 2006

Sympathies to Dedrick Smith's family, who now at least have an answer to where he was. Also, I'm wondering about the minivan that was recovered, as Michele Lyn Hundley Smith had been driving one when she disappeared.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Sympathies to Dedrick Smith's family, who now at least have an answer to where he was. Also, I'm wondering about the minivan that was recovered, as Michele Lyn Hundley Smith had been driving one when she disappeared.

No further news on the minivan but there is a short video of it on the WSPD facebook page and here:
Video shows minivan pulled from Winston Lake, second car found in 3 days | FOX8 WGHP
It looks "boxier" to me than a 1995 Pontic GranSport, like the one she was driving, but I can't entirely rule it out. It's hard to identify from that angle.

 

[Armchair63]

They did a thorough search, but had strong info that there was foul play. Obviously the location is unknown.

20 years ago, a mom of three went Christmas shopping and never came home. | Fatim Hemraj | NewsBreak Original

Michele Lyn Hundley SmithBring Michele Hundley Smith Home. Michele Hundley Smith lived with her husband and three children in Stoneville, a quaint North Carolina town known for its antique stores and mom-and-pop shops with a population of less than 1,000 at the time.

original.newsbreak.com

I saw that episode of adventures with a purpose, today. It sounded as if they had good evidence but it was circumstantial.
Somebody knows, the heat just hasn’t got hot enough, yet

Adventures with Purpose-MURDERED?.. Michele Hundley Smith said GOODBYE TO HER CHILDREN and Left to go Christmas Shopping

Adventures with Purpose-MURDERED?.. Michele Hundley Smith said Ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZNLeR7C4ZsMichele Lyn Hundley Smith said goodbye to her children and left her home in the St

auditorsunited.org

 

[Armchair63]

Hey too all,
I started watching a new crime series on
discovery + people magazine investigates the missing The 1st episode is called the lost girls. It is
About Shannon Gilbert and the other girls that went missing on Long Island,victims of the Long Island serial killer.

What network is People magazine investigates on? - Google Search

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A mom of 3 went out to do some last-minute shopping and never came home. That was over 20 years ago. | Fatim Hemraj | NewsBreak Original

Michele Lyn Hundley Smith lived with her husband and 3 children in Stoneville, a quaint North Carolina town known for antique stores and mom-and-pop shops with a population of less than 1,000.

original.newsbreak.com

 

[Caring1]

Bump for Michele.

Michele was last seen at approximately 6:30pm leaving her residence to go Christmas shopping in Martinsville, VA.

She has a brown "baseball bat" shaped birthmark on one of her ankles.

1 Unidentified Person Exclusion

 

[Caring1]

Bump again for Michele. No new exclusions.

 

[Vern_S]

Searching for Michele is now on my future sonar...

 

[Vern_S]

Michelle Hundely Smith, missing since 2001, has been located! I suppose I'll take her off my future search list.

"On February 20, 2026, Sgt. A. Disher and Detective C. Worley made contact with Michelle Hundely Smith at an undisclosed location within North Carolina alive and well."

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/piedmont-triad/rockingham-county-woman-reported-missing-in-2001-found-alive-24-years-later/

*****
On Thursday, the RCSO Criminal Investigations Division received new information regarding Smith and her disappearance and immediately followed up on the lead. On Friday, detectives made contact with Smith, who was “alive and well,” at an undisclosed location in North Carolina.

*****
A member of Smith’s family shared the following statement with FOX8.

“We also would like to thank all the people who supported and continue to support her daughter throughout this time.”

*****

 

[Elisaa444]

Wow. I know her family that had been searching for her all these years had to be gobsmacked to find out not only she is alive and well, but that she lives in NC (the state she went missing from). I live about 2 1/2 hours from Eden.

Now, in the future anytime I hear someone say, "She would never leave her kids." I will always think about Michelle.

On a different note, I am relieved to hear she is alive and nothing bad happened to her.

JMO>

 

[Elisaa444]

Also, I wonder if Michele saw online .... all the people and resources being spent on her ...looking for her. I'm sure she did.

It is interesting her then husband thought she up and left him with the kids. He was right. Of course, I don't know her circumstances at the time, but I wish she would have just left a note saying "I love you all, but I cannot do this anymore." I don't know, it breaks my heart that her family especially her daughter was looking for all these years. To then find out - she left them and she does not want her location disclosed. ):

JMO >