Particle.news

Download on the App Store

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.

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.