True Crime All The Time – Episode 491: Michele Hundley Smith
Release Date: April 23, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson
Episode Overview
In this special episode, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson (aka Gibby) dive into the astonishing case of Michele Hundley Smith—a woman found alive in 2026 after vanishing in December 2001. The hosts explore Michele's disappearance, the family and investigative struggles through the years, and her unexpected reappearance. The episode stands out as a rare true crime story where the missing person resurfaces alive after nearly a quarter-century, sparking questions about family, mental health, and the complexities of “moving on.”
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Michele's Disappearance and Background
- [01:17] In February 2026, Michele Hundley Smith was found in Robeson County, NC after having been missing for 24 years.
- [02:43] In 2001, Michele (age 38) lived in Stoneville, NC with her husband, Randy, and their children. Eldest daughter Amanda was 19 and out of the house; younger children remained at home.
- [05:03] Michele, remembered as a loving mother, left home on December 9, 2001, to shop at Kmart in Martinsville, VA. She never returned.
- “Michelle was described as a loving mother. Her daughter Amanda recalled that she cooked their favorite meals and was always there to meet them when they got off the bus.” — Mike Ferguson [05:02]
- [07:27] Marriage struggles are revealed: Amanda shared in a 2018 interview that her parents fought often, both were unfaithful, and Michele concealed the extent of her drinking from her husband.
The Early Search and Suspicions
- [09:30] In November 2001 (just a month before her disappearance), Michele received a DUI charge; she then failed to appear in court by late December, leading to an arrest warrant.
- [10:00] The family didn’t report her missing immediately; Michele had a history of leaving after fights and staying at her mother’s.
- “If that's kind of typical for her to go to her mom's for a few days, then you probably wouldn't want to jump right away to calling the police.” — Mike Gibson [10:00]
- [11:51] The watershed moment was Michele missing Christmas—a highly unusual break from her pattern as a devoted mother.
- “That’s a big difference. Right. Going to your mom’s and cooling off for a day or two versus not coming home by Christmas and spending that with your children.” — Mike Ferguson [11:51]
- [13:18] Amanda (14 at the time) and her younger brother struggled immensely; holidays and milestones became reminders of their mother’s absence.
The Decades-Long Investigation and Family Impact
- [15:03] Theories proliferated over the years: was Randy (her husband) involved? Did Michele’s family help her start a new life? The hosts explore how both suspicions could have seemed plausible.
- [17:04] The hosts discuss the emotional toll of years with no closure — cycling through hope and disappointment with every tip.
- [19:59] As an adult, Amanda became the driving force behind the search, harnessing social media and creating a Facebook page, “Bring Michelle Hunley Smith Home.”
- “The age of social media... what it’s done for allowing people to very quickly and inexpensively get the word out... Outside of that, there just wasn’t a lot that you could do on your own.” — Mike Ferguson [21:02]
The Breakthrough and Michele's Discovery
- [24:11] On February 19, 2026, new information led authorities to Michele, alive in Robeson County—only a couple of hours from her original home.
- “On February 19, 2026, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office received new information that Michelle, now 62 years old, was alive. I mean, this is a bombshell.” — Mike Ferguson [24:11]
- [25:44] Michele requested her location remain private, though family was notified.
- [27:38] The sheriff’s office used Facebook to share the update, exemplifying how law enforcement leverages social media to reach wide audiences.
Family Reactions and Emotional Fallout
- [28:58] Family responses were complicated:
- Amanda posted: “My mother chose her new life, and we know she’s alive, and for now, that’s enough.”
- “That’s really big of the daughter to say.” — Mike Gibson [28:58]
- [29:41] Amanda released a longer statement:
- “I’m ecstatic. I’m pissed. I’m heartbroken. I’m all over the mat. Can I see that we’ll have a relationship once more with my mom? Honestly, I can’t answer that because I don’t even know.” — Amanda via Facebook, quoted by Mike Ferguson [29:41-30:45]
- [32:02] The hosts discuss the challenge of forgiveness and the varying emotional capacities required for reconciliation, drawing on personal anecdotes.
- [36:11] Law enforcement determined there was no basis for abandonment charges; Michele, as an adult, had the legal right to leave.
Michele's Account and the Years in Hiding
- [36:45] Details revealed: After leaving, Michele lived with a long-haul trucker (Randy Johnson), traveling and staying under the radar for years. She resumed her maiden name but didn’t use an alias.
- [37:17] Michele told the media, “I had my own demons at the time, and I was in my own head and I had my reasons.” — Reported by Mike Ferguson [37:17]
- [39:02] Further statements from Michele cited her state of mind: “I honestly 100% never knew that I was loved or wanted when I left... I was just not in the mental state to stay. My children were not abandoned. They were left with their father to care for them.” — Quoted by Mike Ferguson [39:02-40:09]
- [40:42] Michele acknowledged heartbreak at learning how her family searched: “When I found out, it broke me. That’s why I’m trying to rebuild something with her, because what she did shows how much I really was loved.” — Michele, Daily Mail [40:42]
Family Dynamics Today
- [45:32] Michele’s brothers forgive her and express willingness to reconnect; Randall (her son) is more guarded:
- “She’s nothing more than a stranger to me now. I’m not angry with her because that’s a wasted emotion, but I really don’t have any emotions, but I don’t wish her any ill.” — Randall Smith [46:11]
- About reunion: “She’s been gone this long, and for someone to meet my children is a privilege in my eyes. That’s not one she deserves.” [47:28]
- [48:54] Randall discusses the alleged role of alcoholism in his mother’s disappearance—hidden bottles, unpaid bills, and planning her exit.
Reunion and Outlook
- [51:47] Michele and Amanda reunite briefly at Michele’s court appearance. Amanda expresses compassion:
- “Life’s too short for me to hold a grudge against her because she’s my mom. We only get one life, and I want my mom in it.” — Amanda, WXII [51:47]
- [53:02] The hosts reflect on the rarity of such a case in true crime:
- “Is it even really a crime? Now, she had some criminal stuff going on that she still has to work out. So there is crime involved, but the leaving... as an adult, even as a mother, you technically, I think, can just pick up and leave.” — Mike Ferguson [53:02]
- [54:14] They caution that while this outcome was positive in one sense, most long-term disappearances do not end this way, but outliers like Michele’s case do exist.
Notable Quotes
“I’m ecstatic. I’m pissed. I’m heartbroken. I’m all over the mat. Can I see that we’ll have a relationship once more with my mom? Honestly, I can’t answer that because I don’t even know.” — Amanda [30:45]
“I honestly 100% never knew that I was loved or wanted when I left... I was just not in the mental state to stay. My children were not abandoned. They were left with their father to care for them.” — Michele Hundley Smith, Daily Mail [39:02–40:09]
“She’s nothing more than a stranger to me now. I’m not angry with her because that’s a wasted emotion, but I really don’t have any emotions, but I don’t wish her any ill.” — Randall Smith [46:11]
“Life’s too short for me to hold a grudge against her because she’s my mom. We only get one life, and I want my mom in it.” — Amanda [51:47]
Important Timestamps
- [01:17] Discovery of Michele alive
- [05:28] Details of her disappearance
- [07:27] Family and marital struggles
- [10:00] Why the family didn’t report Michele missing immediately
- [11:51] Turning point: missing Christmas
- [15:03] Theories: foul play vs. voluntary disappearance
- [19:59] Amanda’s campaign and the role of social media
- [24:11] The case breaks; Michele found alive
- [27:38] Law enforcement’s Facebook reveal
- [28:58] Amanda’s public response
- [36:11] Why no criminal charges for leaving
- [39:02] Michele’s own words about her mental state
- [45:32] Family reactions – brothers and son
- [51:47] Michele’s reunion with Amanda
- [53:02] Reflections on crime, family, and rare outcomes
Tone and Style
- Hosts combine empathy for the family with their signature lighthearted rapport, balancing serious true crime discussion with authentic, conversational “dad jokes” and warmth (“Cheesesteaks did. And now we’re ready to. To get recording.” [01:10]).
- Frank discussion about the gray areas of family trauma, forgiveness, and the mental health struggles underlying Michele’s disappearance.
Conclusion
This episode of True Crime All The Time stands as a thought-provoking exploration of a rare happy-ending in a missing persons case—with a nuanced look at family bonds, trauma, and personal reinvention. The story leaves listeners with lingering questions about what drives people to disappear, the long-term emotional impact on families left behind, and the powerful role of mental health and social media in cold cases.
