The story behind the Rockingham County woman found this week after missing for more than 20 years has generated immense public interest, as many wonder what led her to abandon her old life.

Michelle Hundley Smith was 38 years old when her husband reported her missing after she didn't come home from a shopping trip to K-Mart in Martinsville, Virginia. That was on Dec. 9, 2001.

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For decades, local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI, looked for Smith, a wife and mother to three children. Those in her circle speculated about what happened and the cause of her sudden  disappearance.

Some clarity came this week. One of Smith's daughters, Amanda Smith, spoke for herself and her family on Facebook after her mother was found alive and healthy. However, she asked authorities to keep her location a secret as she's seemingly unwilling to reconnect with her family. 

Then a break came on Wednesday when Smith was arrested. She was placed into custody in Robeson County for failing to appear in court on a 2001 driving while impaired charge in Eden. An arrest warrant was issued for her on Dec. 27, 2001.

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said persistence, technology and collaboration from other law enforcement agencies were paramount in finding Smith. Page has been the county's sheriff since 1998 and said his office has made many efforts to find Smith and released information on several platforms regarding her disappearance. 

"It's not stopped," Page said. "We continue to advertise, put information out, advertise for Crimestoppers and let people know that we're trying to solve this case...we need help, we need that piece to the puzzle."

As the years continued, extensive investigations were launched with the help of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI and still Smith's whereabouts remained unknown.

Page said that they got a lead when Smith provided some information when "applying for service."

"She applied for [a] service that captured that information and alerted us," Page said. "So again, information sharing, collaboration with local state and federal authorities and information services, working with our national database, we were able to get that information in a timely manner and act on it."

Page said Smith asked them originally not to be in contact with her family, and they honored that. Given the circumstances, Page said he understands how hard this must be for her daughters.

"It's got to be a lot," Page said. "Especially if you look at the kids, they're grown up now and what they've had to go through."

At this point, investigators don't have any evidence or reason to support charging Smith with other crimes.

"The investigators and our chief investigator advised me that it didn't have substantial evidence for any criminal charges beyond that point," Page said.

Smith has a court appearance in March. Page said her story can be a teachable moment for those hoping to locate a missing person.

"If you have someone who goes missing, time is critical," Page said. "The quicker, the better and now we have more technology."