Missing Woman Found Alive After 63 Years: A Tale of Choice and Survival

Audrey Backeberg, missing since she was 20, has been located and reportedly made the decision to leave her life behind at that time, according to the Sauk County Sheriff's Office.

In a remarkable twist of fate, authorities in Wisconsin have confirmed that Audrey Backeberg, who vanished on July 7, 1962, has been found alive and thriving. The announcement was made by Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister, who stated that Backeberg's disappearance was a voluntary choice rather than related to any foul play. She is currently living outside of Wisconsin, though additional details regarding her whereabouts remain undisclosed.

Initially reported missing as a young mother of two, Backeberg left her home in Reedsburg to collect her paycheck from a local woolen mill. To compound the complexity of her case, she had recently filed a complaint against her husband for alleged domestic violence. On the fateful day she disappeared, a 14-year-old babysitter accompanied her, but as they ventured to Madison, Wisconsin, the babysitter requested to return home. Backeberg declined, leading to her last sighting walking away from the bus stop after boarding a bus to Indianapolis.

The case languished in the cold case files for decades, until a renewed investigation this year revealed new leads. Detective Isaac Hanson, who worked on the case, noted that an ancestry account from Backeberg's sister proved pivotal in tracking her down. After a lengthy phone conversation with Backeberg, Hanson described her demeanor as content and resolute, stating, “She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets.”

The Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy group expressed its relief at Backeberg's discovery and highlighted the long journey that has now concluded with a hopeful resolution.