Wisconsin woman missing nearly 63 years was found "alive and well"

A Wisconsin pistillate who went missing much than 60 years agone was precocious recovered "alive and well," authorities revealed past week.

Audrey Backeberg was 20 years aged erstwhile she archetypal disappeared from her location successful Reedsburg, Wisconsin, successful July 1962, the Sauk County Sheriff's Office said successful a news release.

Backeberg reportedly near her family's location connected July 7, 1962 and the family's babysitter claimed the 2 of them hitchhiked to Madison, Wisconsin, earlier taking a Greyhound autobus to Indianapolis, Indiana, the Wisconsin Department of Justice said.

Undated photograph of Audrey Backeberg, who disappearance successful 1962. Wisconsin Department of Justice

The babysitter, who was not identified, said she past saw Backeberg, past a parent of two, walking astir the country distant from the autobus stop.

Backeberg ne'er returned location and was not heard from again — until now.

Earlier this year, a detective assigned to bash a broad reappraisal of the acold case, and "through diligent investigative work," they uncovered caller insights into the disappearance.

"Further probe has revealed that Ms. Backeberg's disappearance was by her ain prime and not the effect of immoderate transgression enactment oregon foul play," the sheriff's bureau said, though it did not disclose wherever she was found.

Backeberg, present 82, lives extracurricular of Wisconsin, officials said.

Speaking to ABC affiliate WSIN, Detective Isaac Hanson, who recovered Backeberg, said helium was capable to find her done her sister's ancestry.com account.

"That was beauteous cardinal successful locating decease records, census reports, each kinds of data," helium said. "Ultimately, we came up with an code ... So I called the section sheriff's department, said 'Hey, there's this woman surviving astatine this address. Do you guys person somebody, you tin conscionable spell popular in?' ... Ten minutes later, she called me, and we talked for 45 minutes."

Hanson said an abusive hubby whitethorn person played a relation successful her archetypal determination to permission her home.

He said Backeberg sounded "happy. Confident successful her decision, nary regrets."

"The Sheriff's Office would similar to admit the enactment of Investigators, some past and present," it said successful a quality release. "Despite the important challenges that galore acold cases present, this solution underscores some the value of continued enactment and the dedication of the Sheriff's Office to providing answers to families and the community.

In:
• Cold Case
• Wisconsin
• Missing Persons