"She Vanished 62 Years Ago. Now, She's Been Found Alive in a Stunning Twist."

 

Wisconsin Woman Missing for 62 Years Found Alive, Authorities Say

A woman who disappeared from southwest Wisconsin more than six decades ago has been found alive and well, according to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

Audrey Backeberg was 20 years old when she was reported missing in July 1962 from Reedsburg, a town roughly 63 miles northwest of Madison. At the time, she had two children, according to historical newspaper records.

Despite numerous leads over the years, investigators were unable to locate her—until early 2025, when the cold case was reopened for a comprehensive review. The effort was part of a broader initiative to revisit unsolved cases, Sheriff Chip Meister said in a news release.

Using genealogical tools, including Ancestry.com, detectives ultimately tracked Backeberg down.

“The Sheriff’s Office is now able to report that Audrey Backeberg is alive and well and currently resides out of state,” Meister said. “Further investigation has revealed that Ms. Backeberg’s disappearance was by her own choice and not the result of any criminal activity or foul play.”

Officials have not disclosed where Backeberg is currently living, and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

Young Mother Had Filed Charges Against Husband Before Disappearance

Before she was officially reported missing, Audrey Backeberg was last seen on July 7, 1962, according to the Baraboo News Republic. That day, she picked up her paycheck—marking the final time her family and friends saw her.

Police Reported Domestic Abuse Days Before Disappearance

Just three days before Audrey Backeberg vanished, police received a report on July 4, 1962, alleging that her husband had abused her and threatened her life, according to the Baraboo News Republic. Despite her disappearance, he was granted a divorce the following year, as noted in a Wisconsin State Journal record dated November 24, 1963.

Teen Claims She and Backeberg Planned to Run Away Together

According to the Baraboo News Republic, police interviewed a 14-year-old girl who said Audrey Backeberg had babysat her. The teen told investigators the two had planned to run away and boarded a bus to Indianapolis. However, after falling ill, the girl identified herself to police as a runaway. She said the last time she saw Backeberg was as she crossed a street in Indianapolis.

Search Efforts Continued for Decades

In May 2002, investigators considered a tip from an informant who claimed Backeberg’s body was buried on a property in Sauk County. Then-Sheriff Randy Stammen expressed uncertainty about her fate at the time.

"We don't know if she's simply a missing person living a life somewhere else," Stammen said. "We do know there has been no activity on her Social Security number. The question still comes back to, is she just a missing person?"

Detective: Genealogy Records Instrumental in Solving Case

Detective Isaac Hanson of the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office began working the Backeberg case in March 2025, according to WISN-TV. His investigation led him to a breakthrough using genealogical tools—specifically, access to an Ancestry.com account maintained by Backeberg’s sister.

“That resource was instrumental in locating death records, census data, and other historical documents,” Hanson said. “Ultimately, it helped us identify a current address.”

Hanson then contacted the local sheriff’s department in that area and requested a welfare check. Within ten minutes, he received a phone call—from Audrey Backeberg herself. The two spoke for approximately 45 minutes.

While it is believed that her decision to leave may have been influenced by the abusive circumstances she faced at the time, the question of why she remained out of contact for more than six decades may never be fully answered.

“She appeared to be at peace with her decision,” Hanson said. “She sounded content, confident, and expressed no regrets.”