Missing for nearly 24 years, a North Carolina mother has been found alive. However, she does not want to reunite with her family.

According to the New York Post, Michelle Hundley Smith disappeared on December 31, 2001. At the time, she lived in Eden, North Carolina. She was 38 years old and a mother of three.

That day, she told her family she was going to Virginia. She planned to buy Christmas gifts. However, she never returned home. Her car also vanished.

Soon after, her husband filed a missing person report. Meanwhile, her children, then 19, 14, and 7, waited for answers. Over time, hope faded, but they kept searching.

For years, police investigated leads. Yet, they found no clear trace. In 2018, the family created a Facebook page. They hoped tips would bring answers.

Then, on the 19th, everything changed. A new tip pointed investigators in the right direction. As a result, authorities located Smith in another part of North Carolina.

Officials confirmed she appeared healthy. Moreover, she had lived under a different identity. Investigators believe she built a new life and stayed hidden on purpose.

However, the reunion many expected will not happen. Smith told authorities she does not want contact. In addition, she asked them to keep her location private.

Her daughter Amanda shared her feelings online. She said the news left her ecstatic, angry, and heartbroken. “I don’t know if we can rebuild a relationship,” she wrote. Still, she added that knowing her mother is alive is enough.

Likewise, Smith’s cousin Barbara Byrd reacted with mixed emotions. She said she wanted to shout, “She’s alive!” Yet, she also wondered why Smith left. Even so, she stressed that she respects Smith’s decision.

Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate. They want to understand why Smith left and hid for decades. So far, officials have not shared further details.

Although the family will not reunite now, they finally have answers. After years of uncertainty, they at least know she survived.

Finally, the Facebook page that once searched for Smith has a new mission. Now, it helps other families find their missing loved ones.