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Story summary
- Michele Hundley Smith, a North Carolina woman missing since December 2001, was found alive on February 20, 2026.
- Authorities confirmed she left her family voluntarily due to ongoing domestic issues.
- Dr. Stephanie Johnson, a psychologist, noted that Smith may have suffered from major depressive disorder, exacerbated by alcohol use.
- Local and federal agencies searched for 24 years after her disappearance.
- Smith, now 63, is attempting to reconnect with her daughter.
