A mother of three from North Carolina who vanished without a trace in the year 2001 has been found alive after nearly 24 years.
According to reports from local media outlets, Michelle Hundlely Smith disappeared in December of 2001 after telling her husband that she was going Christmas shopping and never returned. Her sudden disappearance triggered a long and painful search by loved ones and law enforcement that lasted more than two decades.
{img}Over the years, her loved ones lived with unanswered questions, unsure about whether or not she was dead or alive.
Recently, detectives received a new tip that led them to make contact with Smith at an undisclosed location in North Carolina. She is said to be alive and well, but at her own request, authorities have yet to reveal where she is right now.
{img}Family members were informed of her condition and her desire for privacy.
The news has given rise to a mixed array of emotions, relief that she has survived, but at the same time, there is so much confusion about her decisions and the long period she went without any kind of contact.