A mother who vanished just before the Christmas holiday 24 years ago, leaving her children behind, has been located following an arrest for driving under the influence. Michele Hundley Smith, then 38, disappeared from her residence in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Authorities have confirmed that she is alive and well but has chosen not to disclose her current location to her family.

She was last seen driving her green 1995 Pontiac Trans Sport van to Virginia for Christmas shopping on December 9, 2001, abandoning her three children aged 19, 14, and seven. Now 62, her family has been notified of her well-being after her recent arrest for impaired driving in November 2001, just before her disappearance.

According to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, at her request, her whereabouts will remain undisclosed, and her family has been informed of this decision. Her daughter, Amanda Smith, who has been leading efforts to find her mother, expressed a mix of emotions upon learning of her safety.

Amanda shared her feelings on Facebook, stating that her mother’s departure was not solely due to marital issues. She expressed a range of emotions and uncertainties about reestablishing a relationship with her mother. In a subsequent update, she acknowledged her mother’s choice for a new life and requested privacy.

Amanda has been using her social media platform to raise awareness about missing persons cases, including long-term disappearances.