How did the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office solve the case of the missing woman found after 60 years?
In a small town in Wisconsin, a young mother vanished without a trace in 1962. Her family searched for her, but as years turned into decades, hope faded.
The case went cold, leaving loved ones with unanswered questions. Then, in 2025, a surprising discovery brought answers to a mystery that had lasted over 60 years.
What happened to Audrey Backeberg, and how was she found after so long?
The Disappearance of Audrey Backeberg
Audrey Backeberg was 20 years old when she left her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, on July 7, 1962. She was married with two young children.
According to reports, she was last seen by her family’s babysitter, who said they hitchhiked to Madison, Wisconsin, and then took a Greyhound bus to Indianapolis, Indiana.
The babysitter saw Audrey walk away from the bus stop, and that was the last anyone heard from her.
Her family reported her missing, but despite many leads, the trail went cold. Over the years, her case became one of Wisconsin’s longest unsolved mysteries.
Audrey’s marriage was troubled, with reports of abuse, which may have played a role in her decision to leave.
She was only 15 when she married Ronald Backeberg, and the challenges of her young marriage likely weighed heavily on her.
Still, why she never contacted her family again remained a puzzle for decades.
The Charley Project said, “The babysitter stated Audrey chose to leave of her own accord and said she would not return, but Audrey’s family members insisted she would never have abandoned her children.”
Missing Woman Found After 60 Years
In early 2025, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office decided to revisit old cases, including Audrey’s. Detective Isaac Hanson led the effort, diving into old files and re-interviewing witnesses.
A key tool in solving the case was an Ancestry.com account belonging to Audrey’s sister, which helped trace records and locate an address.
Hanson contacted a sheriff’s department in another state, asking them to check on a woman living at that address.
Just ten minutes later, Audrey, now 82, called Hanson herself. They spoke for 45 minutes, and she confirmed she was alive and well.
The sheriff’s office learned that Audrey’s disappearance was her own choice. There was no foul play or crime involved.
She had left Wisconsin to start a new life and had been living quietly outside the state. While it’s unclear why she stayed away for so long, Hanson respected her privacy and kept their conversation confidential.
The sheriff’s office said in a media release, “The Sheriff’s Office is now able to report that Audrey Backeberg is alive and well and currently resides out of State. Further investigation has revealed that Ms. Backeberg’s disappearance was by her own choice and not the result of any criminal activity or foul play.”
The discovery brought closure to a case that had haunted her family and the community for over six decades.
A Happy Ending
Finding Audrey alive was a rare and joyful moment for a cold case. The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office shared the news, emphasizing that no criminal activity was involved.
Audrey’s story reminds us that some mysteries, even ones that last a lifetime, can have happy endings. Her family now knows she is safe, even if the full details of her journey remain private.
This case also shows the power of modern tools like online records and the dedication of detectives who never give up.
The sheriff’s office continues to work on other cold cases, inspired by this success to bring more families peace.
