Authorities in Sauk County, Wisconsin, confirmed that the woman, who was considered missing for over six decades, has been found alive in another US state and is reportedly in good health.
Backeberg was 20 years old when she disappeared from Reedsburg, a small town where she lived with her husband and two children. At the time, her sudden disappearance sparked concerns. Now, with the case officially closed, investigators say there was no indication of a crime and that she likely left on her own accord.
According to the BBC, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office explained that despite years of chasing various leads, the case had long gone cold – until a fresh review of archived files was launched earlier this year. They further state that detective Isaac Hanson, who eventually cracked the case, credited modern tools with making the difference: in particular, he pointed to an online genealogy profile set up by Backeberg’s sister, which played a pivotal role in tracking down the long-missing woman.
Shortly before she went missing, Backeberg had filed a complaint against her husband, who had married her when she was just 15, accusing him of physical abuse and saying he had threatened to kill her, according to the BBC. In light of those threats, her decision to leave and start a new life elsewhere now seems tragically justified.
