Photo: Wisconsin Department of Justice
Audrey Backeberg, who disappeared from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in July 1962, has been found alive and well after 62 years. The Sauk County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday (May 1) that Backeberg, now 82, was located living in another state. Her disappearance was voluntary, with no criminal activity or foul play involved, according to authorities.
Backeberg was last seen by her family's babysitter, who reported that they hitchhiked to Madison, Wisconsin, and then took a Greyhound bus to Indianapolis, Indiana. The babysitter last saw Backeberg walking away from the bus stop. Despite extensive investigations, the case went cold until it was reopened in early 2025 as part of a review of cold cases.
The breakthrough came when Detective Isaac Hanson used Backeberg's sister's Ancestry DNA results to uncover death records, census reports, and other data, which led to an address. Hanson contacted the local sheriff's department to check the address, and within ten minutes, Backeberg called him. They spoke for 45 minutes, and Hanson reported that Backeberg was happy and confident in her decision to leave.
An abusive marriage may have contributed to Backeberg's decision to disappear. She had filed a criminal complaint against her husband, Ronald Backeberg, before she vanished. Ronald passed away in 2006, and Audrey has since remarried and taken a new last name, which has not been disclosed.
Backeberg's family members were notified of her discovery and expressed mixed emotions but were ultimately elated. Detective Hanson assured that the details of Backeberg's life and reasons for leaving would remain private.