Decades-Long Disappearance Solved: Woman Found After 60 Years, Chooses to Remain Hidden

Decades-Long Disappearance Solved: Woman Found After 60 Years, Chooses to Remain Hidden

Six decades following the mysterious disappearance of a young mother from her small Wisconsin community, authorities have confirmed her survival, locating her residing in another state. Audrey Backeberg was merely 20 years old when she vanished from Reedsburg in July 1962, as detailed in an official bulletin from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

According to the bulletin, the family’s babysitter provided an account stating that the two had hitchhiked to Madison, roughly 55 miles away, before boarding a Greyhound bus destined for Indianapolis, Indiana. The babysitter’s last recollection was seeing Audrey “walking around the corner away from the bus stop,” and from that moment, Audrey was never seen or heard from again—until now.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the resolution of Backeberg’s long-standing cold case, confirming she is “alive and well and currently resides out of State.” Sheriff Chip Meister clarified that “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.”

Unraveling a Cold Case

Sheriff Meister explained that the cold case was reassigned to a sheriff’s office detective earlier this year as part of a systematic review of unsolved files. This process involved a “thorough re-evaluation of all case files and evidence, combined with re-interviewing witnesses and uncovering new insights.” Detective Isaac Hanson, the lead investigator, informed local ABC affiliate WISN that a crucial breakthrough came when he discovered Backeberg’s sister possessed an Ancestry.com account. This discovery led him to new information, including a potential address for Audrey.

“So I contacted the local sheriff’s department, asking, ‘Hey, there’s this woman living at this address. Can someone just go check on her?'” Hanson recounted. “Ten minutes later, she called me, and we conversed for 45 minutes.”

Hanson shared that he promised Backeberg confidentiality regarding their discussion and her current location, noting that “she had her reasons for leaving.” He added, “I believe she simply disengaged from things and moved on, living her own life. She sounded content and resolute in her decision, without any regrets.”

Circumstances Surrounding Her Vanishing

An article published in the Baraboo News Republic in 2002, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Backeberg’s disappearance, offers some insights into the potential circumstances of her departure. The article, a copy of which was obtained by NPR, states that Backeberg was last observed on July 7, 1962, collecting her paycheck from the woolen mill where she was employed. Just three days prior, authorities had received a report alleging domestic abuse by her husband.

Then-sheriff Randy Stammen informed the newspaper that Backeberg “reported her husband had loaded a couple of guns and put them into the trunk of his car and threatened to kill her.” By that time, Backeberg’s family had long suspected she had been murdered, yet they continued to hope for the discovery of her remains. The article even mentioned that investigators had recently received a tip from a confidential informant, alleging her body was buried on a rural Sauk County property, prompting plans for a search with a forensic canine unit.

However, Stammen also indicated that his officers had consulted with original investigators from 40 years prior, who “didn’t feel comfortable that she’s simply a missing person.” He added, “We don’t know if she’s simply a missing person living a life somewhere else. We do know there has been no activity on her social security number.” The sheriff’s office confirmed last week that despite numerous leads, the case eventually went cold. USA Today reports, citing newspaper records, that Backeberg’s husband was granted a divorce in 1963, a year after her disappearance.

What Happens Next?

At the time of her vanishing, Backeberg was a mother to two young children, according to both the Baraboo News Republic and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Detective Hanson informed the Associated Press that it remains crucial for Backeberg, now in her 80s, to maintain her anonymity. However, he noted that some of her family members still reside in the area, and he has provided them with his contact information should she decide to reconnect.

“Ultimately, she holds the authority in that decision,” Hanson concluded.