American woman who went missing 24 years ago reunites with her daughter.
An American woman has reunited with her mother, who fled the family 24 years ago. This was reported by the New York Post.
The emotional meeting took place on the morning of March 26 outside the Rockingham County courthouse. Michelle Lynn Handley Smith, now 62, embraced her daughter Amanda for the first time since 2001. Police found Smith at the end of February 2026, thanks to an old warrant for driving under the influence. Amanda came to court to support her mother at the hearing.
Smith went missing shortly before Christmas in 2001; she left for shopping and never returned, leaving her husband to raise three children (19, 14, and 8 years old). For many years, police and the FBI searched for her, suspecting an accident, abduction, or murder. Amanda also actively searched for her mother, organizing a group on social media. As it turned out decades later, Michelle simply started a new life three hours away from her family.
Amanda contacted her mother in early February when she was just discovered, but they had not seen each other in person until March 26. "We talked and texted several times. Nothing too personal because it was all over the phone, but she knew I would come today," Amanda said shortly before the meeting. She admitted that she forgave her mother, even though she spent most of her life searching for her. "Life is so short... I hold no grudges. Things happen," she said.
