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3w ago

Wisconsin Woman Found Alive 62 Years After Voluntary Disappearance

Audrey Backeberg, missing since 1962, was located at 82 years old using genealogical tools; authorities confirm her decision to leave was voluntary.

Audrey Backeberg was 20 years old when she was reported missing out of Wisconsin in July 1962. In 2025, 62 years later, authorities learned she is alive and living in another state.
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Overview

  • Audrey Backeberg, who vanished from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in 1962, has been found alive and well at 82, living under a new name out of state.
  • Detective Isaac Hanson reopened the cold case in early 2025, leveraging Ancestry.com records linked to Backeberg's sister to locate her address.
  • Authorities determined her disappearance was voluntary and not connected to any criminal activity, with Backeberg expressing no regrets about leaving.
  • Backeberg's departure followed allegations of domestic abuse, including threats from her then-husband, filed just days before she left.
  • The case highlights the growing role of genealogical databases in resolving cold cases and the importance of systematic file reviews in law enforcement.