NC - Mom of 3 who vanished 24 years ago while Christmas shopping found ‘alive and well’.

[Bluebear15]

She wasn't reported missing for two weeks. That's very telling to me,

Maybe she would love to have contact with her kids, but if she did that then someone else would find out where she was. I won't judge her as she could've been running from an awful situation.

 

[Bluebear15]

Every time that law enforcement refuses to take a missing person's report or follow up on a family's concerns because the person is an adult etc. This is why. How many missing could have been recovered if not for delays in starting a search? There is just no way that I can't feel anger toward MHS. There are ways that could have let the family know she was alive. Without wasting all of the resources both professional and volunteer over the years.

Another thing. 24 for years of providing zero support for her children. I hope the state comes after her for retroactive child support.

Why 24 years of child support? Her kids were 19 (an adult), 14 and 7, so at most 11 years. And state wouldn't come after her...it would be up to the father to sue her.
Jmo

 

[Zengarden]

Wow so sad for the kids. We don’t know why she left her old life. Could be number of reasons. This story shocks me more than the Guthrie case though. Wish I could find the old thread.

 

[Zengarden]

Why 24 years of child support? Her kids were 19 (an adult), 14 and 7, so at most 11 years. And state wouldn't come after her...it would be up to the father to sue her.
Jmo

Hmmm could be on to something with this thought.

 

[tlcya]

Why 24 years of child support? Her kids were 19 (an adult), 14 and 7, so at most 11 years. And state wouldn't come after her...it would be up to the father to sue her.
Jmo

agreed, 11 years at most. However, IF the state provided benefits to the household after her departure they could absolutely go after her to recoup what was paid out on behalf of those children until their adulthood.

 

[britinsussex]

Aside from all the obvious reactions to this story

She seems to not have ventured very far

Super creepy

Seriously, not far! The world is really not that big. I live in the UK. I was visiting my parents in the US town they retired to and ran into a guy I dated in high school! He was on vacation with his family. How did she never run into someone she knew?

 

[ChatteringBirds]

It's possible she broke laws by not supporting her two youngest children.

If there were "domestic issues" why would you leave your children in that setting?

I am not saying she was a victim of domestic violence (DV). But if she was, some victims of DV do leave their children behind, because it's the only way to completely get away from the abusive partner. Otherwise if you take the children, you are either on the lam forever for abducting them or you are forced to coparent with your abuser.

 

[rob525]

My opinion won't be popular.

I don't know why Michelle left her old life behind. But she had every right to do so, and to find her own peace. She was able to do so for 24 years. That says something.

It's easy to use terms like "selfish" when others don't act as most people would. The truth is that most people have no idea what drives others in desperate or life changing moments. She committed no crime. Leave her alone.

I disagree. She did not have "every right" to disappear. One loses that right when children are brought into the world. The children had every right to have a mother.

 

[rob525]

"...she said she left... due to ongoing domestic issues at the time."
She "did not elaborate on that," the [Rockingham County Sheriff] added.

https://people.com/missing-mom-found-after-24-years-said-she-left-due-to-domestic-issues-11912535

My speculation is that she felt completely trapped by whatever those issues were and by leaving, took herself out of the situation. It's possible it was a very bad situation for her and the children weren't aware of the details.

I wonder which other options she thought she had and why she chose what she chose.

That said, she probably should write up everything she can remember and get an attorney, because she is going to be judged for leaving her children behind. More than a man would be judged. JMO.

I disagree in one aspect. The legal machine would have already sent the man the bill for 24 years worth of back child support and at a minimum, threats of jail time if he did not immediately start paying that bill. But, in the court of public opinion, I would agree.

It is also possible that she didn't want her kids nor her husband any longer and chose this way to free herself of the burdens. Thus, she avoided having to support her children in any way over the last 24 years.

 

[rob525]

Why 24 years of child support? Her kids were 19 (an adult), 14 and 7, so at most 11 years. And state wouldn't come after her...it would be up to the father to sue her.
Jmo

Semantics, but the state will come after you. Without a doubt. And they will come after you even after the child is a grown adult if there are arrears ( apply continued interest on the amount owed the whole time).

Two examples. I know someone that divorced and paid child support directly to his ex-wife who was perfectly happy with the arrangement. Many years later the state came after him for many years of back child support. His ex-wife did not sue him and testified on his behalf. An expensive lawyer and a couple years later and he finally avoided paying the full amount ( ~12-13 years or so). However, he did have to pay 12-13 years worth of fees that the state would have charged him had he paid through them which was still a hefty amount.

Finally, when I was nearly thirty, I had to go with my father ( early fifties) to Ohio because ethe state was coming after him for back child support that they said he owed. My mother didn't bring this action as I had only lived with her for very brief periods over the years and at any time during the period in question. So yeah. The state will most definitely come after someone for back child support.

 

[Bluebear15]

I disagree. She did not have "every right" to disappear. One loses that right when children are brought into the world. The children had every right to have a mother.

I disagree, she has a right to disappear if she's in fear for her life. She obviously knew that her kids were safe (which they were), but it's possible that she didn't feel safe staying.
Women shouldn't have to stay in an abusive situation just because they have kids!!
Jmo

 

[rob525]

I disagree, she has a right to disappear if she's in fear for her life. She obviously knew that her kids were safe (which they were), but it's possible that she didn't feel safe staying.
Women shouldn't have to stay in an abusive situation just because they have kids!!
Jmo

But you don't just disappear for 24 years with no word. Even after the children were adults. And the fact that she was in danger is nothing more than supposition and guessing. No one has the right to abandon their children.

 

[Bluebear15]

But you don't just disappear for 24 years with no word. Even after the children were adults. And the fact that she was in danger is nothing more supposition and guessing. No one has the right to abandon their children.

She left because of "domestic issues " so it's a reasonable guess that it was because of abuse. If she had contacted her kids, she would've had a visit from him.
Maybe you don't understand the risks women face when leaving an abusive man.
Jmo

 

[MelmothTheLost]

She left because of "domestic issues " so it's a reasonable guess that it was because of abuse. If she had contacted her kids, she would've had a visit from him.
Maybe you don't understand the risks women face when leaving an abusive man.
Jmo

I agree. For a woman who needs to get away from domestic abuse (if indeed this was the case here), the point of actually leaving can be the most dangerous time of all. It can lead to abuse escalating to murder.

 

[rob525]

She left because of "domestic issues " so it's a reasonable guess that it was because of abuse. If she had contacted her kids, she would've had a visit from him.
Maybe you don't understand the risks women face when leaving an abusive man.
Jm

Key word is "guess". She abandoned her children in many ways. Not the least of which is forcing them to endure years of accusations against their father by people ASSUMING he was the bad one in this situation.

"Smith’s children have defended their father in the case, noting he is a “great man” who faced accusations for more than two decades." -The Charlotte Observer 24 February, 2026.

 

[tlcya]

She left because of "domestic issues " so it's a reasonable guess that it was because of abuse. If she had contacted her kids, she would've had a visit from him.
Maybe you don't understand the risks women face when leaving an abusive man.
Jmo

So she left her minor children there, alone, to deal with her possibly abusive husband and simply disappeared? Are you saying in such a theoretic circumstance the children didn't face risk being left with an abusive man?

 

[Bluebear15]

So she left her minor children there, alone, to deal with her possibly abusive husband and simply disappeared? Are you saying in such a theoretic circumstance the children didn't face risk being left with an abusive man?

It is often the case that a man is abusive to his wife, but fine with his kids. One of the kids was 19, so she would've know what he was like with them. Have you considered that she couldn't take the kids with her.

Are you saying that women should be forced to stay in an abusive situation because they have kids?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Sheriff Page, speaking with Nexstar, said Smith cited “ongoing domestic issues” as her reason for leaving, but could not speak to what those issues entailed. He acknowledged that “domestic issues” could mean many things,

He also said he was not aware of any contact between Smith and her family, but relayed that the sheriff’s office was “glad she’s OK and she was located.”

“We hope some sort of closure has been given to the family,” Smith said.

Detectives also sat for a full case review with the Rockingham District Attorney’s Office to share evidence.

“After the case review and the absence of probable cause or evidence to support a pursuit of criminal charges, the decision not pursue criminal charges by the investigators was supported by the District Attorney,” Page said.

https://www.wjtv.com/news/sheriff-gives-update-on-missing-north-carolina-woman-found-alive-and-well-after-24-years/

 

[tlcya]

It is often the case that a man is abusive to his wife, but fine with his kids. One of the kids was 19, so she would've know what he was like with them. Have you considered that she couldn't take the kids with her.

Are you saying that women should be forced to stay in an abusive situation because they have kids?

I am not.

I am saying that pulling a disappearing act and leaving minor children in the home, effectively abandoning them, with an alleged abusive spouse, is not something I support or condone.