Related videos:
An American woman identified as Audrey Backeberg, who went missing in 1962 at the age of 20, was found alive and in good health more than six decades later.
The authorities confirmed that the disappearance was voluntary and not related to any criminal act.
Backeberg, who was residing in Reedsburg, Kentucky at the time, disappeared the day he left his home to collect his paycheck from the factory where he worked.
She had been married since she was 15 and had two small children. The last person to see her was the family's nanny, who reported that they both traveled by bus to Indianapolis and that she lost track of Audrey when she walked away on a nearby street from the bus stop.
For decades, the case remained unresolved. Numerous leads were pursued by the police without success, and the file was shelved until it was recently reopened as part of a review of unresolved cases by the Sauk County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin.
Detective Isaac Hanson was the one who managed to locate him.
Through the Ancestry.com account of Audrey's sister, Hanson was able to trace records that led him to an address in another state —not disclosed for privacy reasons— where a woman whose characteristics matched those of Backeberg lived.
"Ten minutes after making contact, she called me. We talked for 45 minutes. She seemed happy, confident in her decision, without regrets," Hanson recounted.
Although the reasons for Audrey's decision to leave her previous life have not been publicly disclosed, reports from the Charley Project and media outlets such as the BBC indicate that her marriage was troubled and that days before her disappearance, Backeberg had filed a criminal complaint against her husband for domestic violence and death threats.
The Sauk County sheriff, Chip Meister, emphasized that the case did not involve criminal activity and highlighted the commitment of both past and present investigators.
"This resolution emphasizes the importance of maintaining a constant effort in unresolved cases to provide answers to families and the community," it stated in a statement.
Audrey Backeberg, now 82 years old, has lived for more than six decades away from her past.
Her story, in addition to resolving one of the oldest missing persons cases in the United States, reignites the debate about personal choices in contexts of violence and silence.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Audrey Backeberg Case
How was Audrey Backeberg found after more than six decades missing?
Audrey Backeberg was located thanks to the investigation by Detective Isaac Hanson, who used records from Ancestry.com of Audrey's sister to track her whereabouts. This led him to an address in another state where a woman with characteristics matching those of Backeberg lived.
Why did Audrey Backeberg disappear in 1962?
Although the exact reasons have not been publicly disclosed, reports from the Charley Project and other media outlets like the BBC suggest that Audrey Backeberg chose to leave her life due to a troubled marriage, as she had filed a criminal complaint against her husband for domestic violence and death threats shortly before her disappearance.
How has the resolution of the case impacted the community and the authorities?
The Sauk County Sheriff, Chip Meister, emphasized that the resolution of the case highlights the importance of maintaining a steady effort in unresolved cases, providing answers to families and the community. This case, one of the oldest missing persons cases in the United States, reopens the debate on personal decisions in contexts of violence and silence.
Filed under: