Cold Case Cracked: Wisconsin Woman Missing for 62 Years Found Alive and Well
A decades-long mystery has finally been solved in Sauk County, Wisconsin, as authorities announced the incredible discovery that Audrey Backeberg, a woman who vanished in 1962, is alive and well. The announcement brings closure to a case that has haunted the community for generations, filled with unanswered questions and the persistent hope that Backeberg would one day be found.
In July of 1962, Audrey Backeberg, then a 20-year-old resident of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was reported missing. Reedsburg, a small town nestled approximately 63 miles northwest of Madison, became the epicenter of a search that would span decades. Backeberg left behind two young children, adding to the urgency and heartbreak surrounding her disappearance.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office diligently pursued numerous leads in the initial years following her disappearance, but their efforts were met with frustration. Despite their best attempts, Backeberg remained elusive, and the case eventually went cold. The passage of time only deepened the mystery, leaving family, friends, and the community grappling with uncertainty and grief.
However, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office never entirely abandoned hope. In early 2025, Sheriff Chip Meister made the decision to breathe new life into the cold case files, assigning a dedicated detective to conduct a comprehensive review of Backeberg’s case. This renewed focus signaled a commitment to revisiting old evidence, exploring new possibilities, and leveraging advancements in investigative technology.
The key to unlocking the mystery lay in the realm of genealogy and online databases. Investigators turned to Ancestry.com, a popular online platform that allows users to trace their family history through genealogical records. This innovative approach proved to be the breakthrough they needed.
According to WISN-TV, the investigators were able to utilize an Ancestry.com account belonging to Backeberg’s sister to unearth a wealth of information. Detective Isaac Hanson of the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office explained how the online platform revealed vital clues, including death records, census reports, and other pertinent data.
This digital treasure trove ultimately led investigators to a specific address. Armed with this promising lead, Detective Hanson contacted the local sheriff’s department in the jurisdiction where the address was located. He requested that they conduct a simple welfare check, asking them to "pop in" and verify if a woman matching Backeberg’s description resided at the address.
The results of this simple inquiry were nothing short of astonishing. Just ten minutes after the request was made, Backeberg herself contacted Detective Hanson. The two spoke for an extended period, a 45-minute conversation that provided crucial answers and a sense of profound relief.
The conversation confirmed that Audrey Backeberg was indeed alive and well, living out of state. The sheriff’s office was quick to clarify that Backeberg’s disappearance was a voluntary decision, not the result of criminal activity or foul play. She had chosen to leave her past behind and forge a new life elsewhere.
The circumstances surrounding Backeberg’s departure in 1962 provide further context to her decision. Just days before she went missing, police had received a report that her husband had abused her and threatened her life, according to the Baraboo News Republic. This revelation paints a picture of a woman facing domestic turmoil and potentially seeking an escape from a dangerous situation.
Adding another layer to the puzzle, records indicate that Backeberg’s husband was granted a divorce in 1963, the year following her disappearance.
Furthermore, the Baraboo News Republic reported that police had spoken with a 14-year-old girl who claimed Backeberg had babysat her. The girl told police that she and Backeberg had planned to run away together. They even took a bus to Indianapolis. However, the girl became ill and ultimately revealed to the police that she was a runaway. The girl last saw Backeberg as she crossed the street in Indianapolis. This detail suggests that Backeberg had considered leaving her life behind, and had even planned to do so with a companion.
The case took another turn in May 2002 when investigators announced plans to search a property in Sauk County based on information from an informant who claimed Backeberg’s body was buried there. Then-sheriff Randy Stammen acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the case, stating, "We don’t know if she’s simply a missing person living a life somewhere else. We do now there has been no activity on her social security number. The question still comes back to, is she just a missing person?"
Despite the years of speculation and investigative efforts, the truth remained elusive until Detective Hanson’s recent breakthrough. The use of online genealogy resources proved to be the key that unlocked the decades-old mystery.
Detective Hanson shared his thoughts on Backeberg’s decision to remain absent from her previous life. "I think she just was removed and… moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and led her life," he said. "She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets."
While the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office has provided closure to the missing person case, many questions remain unanswered. The office has not disclosed the state where Backeberg currently resides, respecting her privacy and desire to maintain her anonymity. Additionally, the full details of her life after leaving Reedsburg in 1962 remain unknown.
Despite the lingering questions, the discovery that Audrey Backeberg is alive and well brings a sense of resolution to a case that has weighed on the Sauk County community for over six decades. It is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement, the power of innovative investigative techniques, and the enduring hope that missing persons can be found, even after decades of uncertainty. The story of Audrey Backeberg serves as a reminder that even the coldest of cases can be solved, bringing closure and peace to those who have waited for answers for so long.
