Latest news with #WisconsinMissingPersonsAdvocacy
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Missing mother-of-two makes stunning admission as she is found 63 years after mysteriously vanishing
A young mother who vanished over 60 years ago has finally been found and admitted she has 'no regrets' about her disappearance. Audrey Backebeger was 20 years old and a married mother-of-two when she disappeared from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in July 1962. On Thursday, the Sauk County Sheriff's Office announced that Backebeger had been found 'alive and well' in another 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 sheriff's office said. The Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy (WMPA) organization said the woman married her husband, Ronald Backeberg, at just 15 years old and their marriage was riddled with abuse. Despite her family's insistence that Backeberg would never abandon her kids, the case eventually went cold. Detective Isaac Hanson reopened Backeberg's case in March for a comprehensive review as part of an ongoing examination of cold case files. 'I think she just was removed and, you know, moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and lead her life. She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets,' Hanson told WISN. Backeberg filed a criminal complaint claiming her husband had beaten her and threatened to kill her just days before she vanished, according to WMPA. However, her husband passed a polygraph exam and has always maintained his innocence in the case. Shortly after Backeberg went missing, a 14-year-old babysitter for the couple told police she had hitchhiked to Madison with the young mother, then took a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana with her. The teenager decided to return home and claimed she last saw Backeberg at a bus stop. 'The juvenile was interviewed again as an adult, maybe 15 years ago,' Detective Lt. Chris Zunker of the Sauk County Sheriff's Office told WMPA. 'She stated Audrey had taken a bunch of pills, put them in a Coke can and drank it before taking the bus down to Indianapolis. 'She reported Audrey potentially hooked up with some construction workers that may have been in the area.' The Sauk County Sheriff's Office said investigators pursued numerous leads over the years, but the case went unsolved for decades. Earlier this year, Hanson was assigned the case and through re-evaluation and re-interviewing witnesses, was able to track Backeberg down. 'The sister actually had an account, and I was able to use that. That was pretty key in locating death records, census reports, all kinds of data,' Hanson said. 'Ultimately, we came up with an address. So I called the local sheriff's department, said "Hey, there's this lady living at this address. Do you guys have somebody, you can just go pop in?" Ten minutes later, she called me, and we talked for 45 minutes.' Hanson did not specify what state she is in, but said her abusive husband may have played a role in her initial decision to leave.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing without a trace
A missing mum-of-two has been found 'alive and well' nearly 63 years after she first disappeared. Audrey Backeberg left behind a husband and two children in what was is said to have been an abusive home when she disappeared in July 1962. Now 82, she has been rediscovered outside of Wisconsin where she had lived, Sauk County Sheriff's Office said. Six decades earlier, Ms Backeberg went to pick up her salary and hitchhiked to Wisconsin's capital city Madison with her 14-year-old babysitter. This was only days after a criminal complaint had been filed against her husband, the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation said. They caught a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana, before the teenager became nervous and decided to go home. She was the last person to see Ms Backeburg, then 20, as she walked towards another bus stop. Relatives insisted that the young mum would never abandon her children while her husband passed a polygraph test, presuming his innocence. Despite years of investigators desperately trying to track her down, it was a review of the cold case earlier this year by a detective that led him to discovering Ms Backeberg's whereabouts. Detective Isaac Hanson re-interviewed several witnesses and poured over all the evidence - but in the end it was her sister's account that was the missing piece in tracking Ms Backeberg down. Using their available death records and census reports, he was able to find out her address. He called the local sheriff's department and asked them to 'pop in' on her. 'I had high hopes; there wasn't a certainty that we would know it was her,' he said. Ten minutes later, she phoned Detective Hanson and they spoke for 45 minutes. The detective has promised to keep their conversation private but did not rule out her leaving because of marital issues. Though he added why it was unclear she had stayed away for so long. After going over the cold case, Detective Isaac Hanson said he 'had high hopes; there wasn't a certainty that we would know it was her' when he found her address 'I think she just was removed and, you know, moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and led her life,' he said. 'She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets.' The police have decided to leave the woman be and have concluded that the disappearance 'was not the result of any criminal activity or foul play'. The startling discovery comes only months after a British woman was similarly rediscovered decades after she first disappeared - only 80 miles from her house. Sheila Fox - a 16-year-old from Coventry - vanished in March 1972, leaving her family desperately worried. She was apparently intending, as was normal in the 1970s, to leave school at 16 which would have happened in July 1972. The precise circumstances of what prompted her to run away from home remain unclear though the accepted version of events among members of her wider family is that she had embarked upon a relationship with an older man and her parents disapproved - or she feared that they would if they found out. According to her cousin Kevin Fox, the family story was that she had 'run off with the insurance man, the man from The Pru.' ('The man from the Pru', short for Prudential, was a popular insurance advertising slogan at the time Sheila vanished.) Her movements immediately after leaving Coventry are not clear. But what is clear is that if Sheila hadn't run away because she 'got in trouble' - as the expression for unplanned pregnancies at the time had it - she soon would be. Just 16 months after disappearing, Sheila gave birth to a son Robert, who turned out to be her only son, in July 1973. Rob's birth certificate shows he was fathered by a man called John Foster, who is described as barman from Enfield, north London. By that time Sheila had changed her surname to Foster, suggesting that Sheila and John had married. Teenage mum Sheila remained estranged from her parents and siblings at this point and would remain so for another decade or so - before herself making contact again. Or at least trying to. 'She got back in touch with her family in the 1980s,' recalled Kevin, 75, who still lives in Coventry. 'But by then the whole family had moved to Canada.' The precise details of what happened when she tried to get back in touch are unclear but it's believed that word reached the Fox family in Canada and the whole notion that Sheila was missing was laid to rest at this point - but apparently no one got around to informing West Midlands Police that they were back in contact. It is also unclear what happened to her relationship with John Foster, but by 1983 Sheila had married divorced father-of-two Jack Thorpe, who is seven years her senior, taking his surname, as did her son, Rob. Jack, a chauffeur, had grown up in north-west London and it's thought the couple were living in the area at this time and subsequently. Certainly from 2003, they were in a flat just off London's North Circular Road in Cricklewood. Then in 2015, Sheila and Jack Thorpe bought a flat in Watford, where they still live. Rob, now 51 and himself also married, lives around the corner from his mother and her husband in the Hertfordshire commuter town. He works as a lorry driver. When approached by MailOnline, Sheila said: 'It all happened a long time ago, I've moved on, it's all in the past. It's been a misunderstanding and I don't want to say any more.'
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Mystery of missing mum-of-two solved as she's found ALIVE after vanishing 63 years ago & reveals she has ‘no regrets'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM-OF-TWO who went missing back in 1962 has finally been found alive and well. Audrey Backeberg, now aged 82, vanished when she was just 20 years old as her family and police desperately searched for any trace. 3 Audrey Backeberg vanished in 1962 when she was just a 20-year-old Credit: Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy Inc 3 Detective Isaac Hanson solved the six-decade long cold case this year Credit: WISN 12 News 3 The mum-of-two lived in Reedsburg until she vanished Credit: Getty She left her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin over 60 years ago seemingly never to return. After years passed by and no one could locate Ms Backeberg, Sauk County Sheriff's Office eventually closed the missing person's case as the leads went cold. But earlier this year, the case was finally reexamined by police during a routine review of cold cases. Detective Isaac Hanson jumped at the chance to solve a six decade long mystery. He conducted interviews and studied the facts of the disappearance. And in a few short months found Ms Backeberg safe and sound. The elderly woman had spent her life living just outside of Wisconsin, the sheriff's office said. Her shock disappearance back in the 60s rocked the small city of Reedsburg which back in 1962 only had a population of 1,800. Ms Backeberg was married and had two children when she vanished, according to the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. She left her home on a summer's day to pick up her salary but never returned. Moment 'missing' Daniel Davies, 26, who hadn't been seen in a MONTH in Thailand is found by police in dingy hostel The family were left shocked by her sudden move and wanted her disappearance investigated. Shortly after cops started to look for Ms Backeburg, the family's 14-year-old babysitter claimed she hitchhiked to Wisconsin's capital city of Madison with the missing woman. The pair then caught a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana, the babysitter alleged. The teen decided to return home after becoming nervous about running away but Ms Backeberg reportedly refused to go back. She was last seen walking near a bus stop before vanishing for the next 63 years. It is still unclear what made her want to escape her family. Her marriage was said to have been troubled in the months leading up to her running away, say the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. A criminal complaint was even filed just days before she went missing. Her relatives insisted she would never abandon her children without a real reason, the organisation added. But the husband was investigated by police and passed a polygraph test as he maintained his innocence. How was she found? Detective Hanson managed to track down Ms Backeburg by finding her sister's account. He told local news station WISN: "That was pretty key in locating death records, census reports, all kinds of data. "So I called the local sheriff's department, said, 'Hey, there's this lady living at this address. Do you guys have somebody, you can just go pop in?' "Ten minutes later, she called me, and we talked for 45 minutes." Hanson says he promised to keep the details of their conversation private as he didn't reveal what caused her to leave home. He did say: "I think she just was removed and, you know, moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and led her life. "She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets." Sauk County Sheriff's Office ruled her disappearance as not being suspicious They say she made the choice to leave and it "was not the result of any criminal activity or foul play".
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mystery of missing mum-of-two solved as she's found ALIVE after vanishing 63 years ago & reveals she has ‘no regrets'
A MUM-OF-TWO who went missing back in 1962 has finally been found alive and well. Audrey Backeberg, now aged 82, vanished when she was just 20 years old as her family and police desperately searched for any trace. Advertisement 3 Audrey Backeberg vanished in 1962 when she was just a 20-year-old Credit: Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy Inc 3 Detective Isaac Hanson solved the six-decade long cold case this year Credit: WISN 12 News 3 The mum-of-two lived in Reedsburg until she vanished Credit: Getty She left her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin over 60 years ago seemingly never to return. After years passed by and no one could locate Ms Backeberg, Sauk County Sheriff's Office eventually closed the missing person's case as the leads went cold. But earlier this year, the case was finally reexamined by police during a routine review of cold cases. Detective Isaac Hanson jumped at the chance to solve a six decade long mystery. Advertisement He conducted interviews and studied the facts of the disappearance. And in a few short months found Ms Backeberg safe and sound. The elderly woman had spent her life living just outside of Wisconsin, the sheriff's office said. Her shock disappearance back in the 60s rocked the small city of Reedsburg which back in 1962 only had a population of 1,800. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Exclusive Ms Backeberg was married and had two children when she vanished, according to the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. She left her home on a summer's day to pick up her salary but never returned. Moment 'missing' Daniel Davies, 26, who hadn't been seen in a MONTH in Thailand is found by police in dingy hostel The family were left shocked by her sudden move and wanted her disappearance investigated. Shortly after cops started to look for Ms Backeburg, the family's 14-year-old babysitter claimed she hitchhiked to Wisconsin's capital city of Madison with the missing woman. Advertisement The pair then caught a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana, the babysitter alleged. The teen decided to return home after becoming nervous about running away but Ms Backeberg reportedly refused to go back. She was last seen walking near a bus stop before vanishing for the next 63 years. It is still unclear what made her want to escape her family. Advertisement Her marriage was said to have been troubled in the months leading up to her running away, say the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. A criminal complaint was even filed just days before she went missing. Her relatives insisted she would never abandon her children without a real reason, the organisation added. But the husband was investigated by police and passed a polygraph test as he maintained his innocence. Advertisement How was she found? Detective Hanson managed to track down Ms Backeburg by finding her sister's account. He told local news station WISN: "That was pretty key in locating death records, census reports, all kinds of data. "So I called the local sheriff's department, said, 'Hey, there's this lady living at this address. Do you guys have somebody, you can just go pop in?' "Ten minutes later, she called me, and we talked for 45 minutes." Advertisement Hanson says he promised to keep the details of their conversation private as he didn't reveal what caused her to leave home. He did say: "I think she just was removed and, you know, moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and led her life. "She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets." Read more on the Irish Sun Sauk County Sheriff's Office ruled her disappearance as not being suspicious Advertisement They say she made the choice to leave and it "was not the result of any criminal activity or foul play". 'World's oldest cold case' SOLVED DETECTIVES have solved the 'world's oldest cold case' as battered human bones give clues to seven brutal deaths almost 6,000 years ago. Archaeologists discovered a scene of mass death in 2004 with nearly 100 pieces of human bone at the site of a prehistoric house. The dwelling from 5,700 years ago had been in the ancient settlement of Kosenivka, about 115 miles south of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The bones from most of the Stone Age skeletons were charred and burned, and two of the skulls had been brutally caved in. The skeletons belonged to at least seven people: two children, one teenager and four adults. Interestingly, the only four skeletons inside the house were scorched, whilst the three found outside were not. Initially, it had been presumed that the deaths were accidental - perhaps as a result of a house fire. However, the realisation that two of the adults suffered violent head trauma just before their deaths sparked a 5,700-year forensic investigation. Researchers studied closely the fracture patterns and discolouration displayed by the bones to deduce all they could about the last moments of the Stone Age people. The team concluded that the people inside had been burned to death, unable to escape the flames, whilst the others managed to stagger outside but later succumbed to smoke inhalation.
The Sun
04-05-2025
- The Sun
Mystery of missing mum-of-two solved as she's found ALIVE after vanishing 63 years ago & reveals she has ‘no regrets'
A MUM-OF-TWO who went missing back in 1962 has finally been found alive and well. Audrey Backeberg, now aged 82, vanished when she was just 20 years old as her family and police desperately searched for any trace. 3 3 3 She left her home in Reedsburg, Wisconsin over 60 years ago seemingly never to return. After years passed by and no one could locate Ms Backeberg, Sauk County Sheriff's Office eventually closed the missing person's case as the leads went cold. But earlier this year, the case was finally reexamined by police during a routine review of cold cases. Detective Isaac Hanson jumped at the chance to solve a six decade long mystery. He conducted interviews and studied the facts of the disappearance. And in a few short months found Ms Backeberg safe and sound. The elderly woman had spent her life living just outside of Wisconsin, the sheriff's office said. Her shock disappearance back in the 60s rocked the small city of Reedsburg which back in 1962 only had a population of 1,800. Ms Backeberg was married and had two children when she vanished, according to the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. She left her home on a summer's day to pick up her salary but never returned. The family were left shocked by her sudden move and wanted her disappearance investigated. Shortly after cops started to look for Ms Backeburg, the family's 14-year-old babysitter claimed she hitchhiked to Wisconsin's capital city of Madison with the missing woman. The pair then caught a bus to Indianapolis, Indiana, the babysitter alleged. The teen decided to return home after becoming nervous about running away but Ms Backeberg reportedly refused to go back. She was last seen walking near a bus stop before vanishing for the next 63 years. It is still unclear what made her want to escape her family. Her marriage was said to have been troubled in the months leading up to her running away, say the Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy organisation. A criminal complaint was even filed just days before she went missing. Her relatives insisted she would never abandon her children without a real reason, the organisation added. But the husband was investigated by police and passed a polygraph test as he maintained his innocence. How was she found? Detective Hanson managed to track down Ms Backeburg by finding her sister's account. He told local news station WISN: "That was pretty key in locating death records, census reports, all kinds of data. "So I called the local sheriff's department, said, 'Hey, there's this lady living at this address. Do you guys have somebody, you can just go pop in?' "Ten minutes later, she called me, and we talked for 45 minutes." Hanson says he promised to keep the details of their conversation private as he didn't reveal what caused her to leave home. He did say: "I think she just was removed and, you know, moved on from things and kind of did her own thing and led her life. "She sounded happy. Confident in her decision. No regrets." Sauk County Sheriff's Office ruled her disappearance as not being suspicious They say she made the choice to leave and it "was not the result of any criminal activity or foul play". 'World's oldest cold case' SOLVED DETECTIVES have solved the 'world's oldest cold case' as battered human bones give clues to seven brutal deaths almost 6,000 years ago. Archaeologists discovered a scene of mass death in 2004 with nearly 100 pieces of human bone at the site of a prehistoric house. The dwelling from 5,700 years ago had been in the ancient settlement of Kosenivka, about 115 miles south of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The bones from most of the Stone Age skeletons were charred and burned, and two of the skulls had been brutally caved in. The skeletons belonged to at least seven people: two children, one teenager and four adults. Interestingly, the only four skeletons inside the house were scorched, whilst the three found outside were not. Initially, it had been presumed that the deaths were accidental - perhaps as a result of a house fire. However, the realisation that two of the adults suffered violent head trauma just before their deaths sparked a 5,700-year forensic investigation. Researchers studied closely the fracture patterns and discolouration displayed by the bones to deduce all they could about the last moments of the Stone Age people. The team concluded that the people inside had been burned to death, unable to escape the flames, whilst the others managed to stagger outside but later succumbed to smoke inhalation.
