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  • Wife reported missing in 2001 found alive and leading a secret life, NC cops say

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    A new lead is credited with solving the mystery of what became of Michelle Hundley Smith, who vanished while going to K-Mart on Dec. 9, 2001, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office said.

    A new lead is credited with solving the mystery of what became of Michelle Hundley Smith, who vanished while going to K-Mart on Dec. 9, 2001, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office said.

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    A “troubling” 2001 missing persons case took a stunning turn when detectives discovered the wife and mother was living a secret life in North Carolina, according to investigators.

    A “new lead” is credited with solving the mystery of what became of Michelle Hundley Smith, who vanished while going to K-Mart on Dec. 9, 2001, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office said.

    “On February 20 (detectives) made contact with Michelle Hundely Smith at an undisclosed location within North Carolina – alive and well,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

    “At her request, her current whereabouts will remain undisclosed. Her family has been notified that she has been located and informed of this request as well.”

    One of Smith’s children issued a statement Feb. 21, via a Facebook page created in 2018 to collect tips in the case.

    “There is too much going on to deal with everything,” the statement said. “The personal details are not going to be dived into right now, but I will say that my mother chose her new life, and we know she is alive, and for now that is enough. I can’t really think straight right now.”

    A motive for 62-year-old Smith’s decision to vanish was not released.

    The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office says it never gave up searching for Smith, who was officially reported missing on New Year’s Eve of 2001 – nearly two weeks after she was last seen.

    She was 38 at the time, and living with her family at a rural home in Eden, N.C., about a 105-mile drive northwest from downtown Raleigh.

    “According to her husband, Michelle had left home to travel to K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia, for Christmas shopping and never returned,” the sheriff’s office said.

    “Over the years, the case drew the attention and collaboration of multiple agencies across North Carolina and Virginia, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Despite countless hours of investigative work and the pursuit of numerous leads, Michelle Hundely Smith’s whereabouts remained unknown.”

    The tip that resulted in her being found was received on Feb. 19, officials said. The source has not been revealed.

    This story was originally published February 22, 2026 at 7:26 AM.

    Mark Price

    The Charlotte Observer

    Mark Price is a National Reporter for McClatchy News. He joined the network of newspapers in 1991 at The Charlotte Observer, covering beats including schools, crime, immigration, LGBTQ issues, homelessness and nonprofits. He graduated from the University of Memphis with majors in journalism and art history, and a minor in geology.

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  • Missing hunter found alive after 20 days lost in California wilderness

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    CLOVIS, Calif. — A missing hunter who had been missing for 20 days in California was found alive on Saturday.

    Ron Dailey, of Selma, California was supposed to be gone for a day of hunting in the Sierra National Forest, and when he didn’t return home, his family contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

    Dailey said he went to the Swamp Lake Trail. Before he knew it, he found himself in uncharted territory.

    “I went over this thing, and it was scraping bottom. I looked up the tree in front of it, it said Diamond Road, jeep road. That means you’d better have a rock crawler. I don’t have a rock crawler,” said Dailey.

    He continued down the trail. Eventually, he realized his truck was destroyed, so he used it as shelter. Dailey had food for about two weeks.

    After several days had passed, at an elevation of about 10,000 feet, Dailey decided to make a move.

    “You either try to walk out or you’re going to sit here and die,” said Dailey.

    The Selma man said he fell a couple of times going downhill, and when he was at the bottom of a rocky hill, he noticed he lost his phone.

    Weeks passed and Dailey said after several miles of walking and lots of praying — relief.

    Authorities said he was found by a group of hunters near Swamp Lake Trail on Saturday.

    “There were resources from across the Central Valley that came here. We have different counties that sent equipment. Kern County sent equipment. Of course, Tulare County, Kings County all had individuals here assisting with the search,” said Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig.

    Dailey’s daughter, Breanna, recorded him recounting how he got lost as he recovered at in a Clovis hospital.

    Dailey is being monitored by doctors. The family says if everything goes as planned, Dailey will be released on Monday.

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