Authorities have revealed that a mother from Wisconsin has been living under a different identity for over 60 years, embracing a new life with her second husband.
As reported by the Salk County Sheriff’s Office, 82-year-old Audrey Buckeberg vanished from her Reedsburg home in 1962, where she lived with her two children and an abusive spouse.
In March, Buckeberg mentioned, “She had a reason to leave the area,” after the cold case files regarding her disappearance were reopened.
She was just 20 years old when she went missing. After remarrying, Buckeberg started a new life outside Wisconsin, but she has chosen not to disclose whether she has children with her new partner when contacted by officers in March.
Her last known sighting was at an Indianapolis bus station shortly after she vanished. A babysitter reported that she boarded a bus to Indiana after consuming a drink.
Initially, her husband Ronald (who married her when she was 15) denied any involvement in her disappearance, insisting she would never abandon her children.
Just days before disappearing, Buckeberg had filed charges against Ronald for severe abuse, even claiming he had threatened her life.
According to former Salk County Sheriff Randy Stanmen, she had been vocal about her situation for years, indicating she had to take drastic measures.
For decades, Buckeberg didn’t reach out to her family. One of her children passed away in 2006, while Ronald eventually died too.
Sadly, her mother passed away in 2023.
“She moved on, created her own life, and seems to have done well,” said Detective Isac Hanson, who was assigned to her cold case earlier this year.
Hanson had to sift through old records, many of which were not digitized, to gather information about Buckeberg’s case.
As part of his investigation, he reached out to about 20 families and witnesses, piecing together Buckeberg’s story with help from Ancestry.com, which linked him to her sister.
Ultimately, Hanson managed to locate Buckeberg’s new address and, when he called, she answered.
“She was very open and answered all my questions,” Hanson shared, noting they spoke for about 45 minutes, and her accounts matched the details in the case.
Her family expressed joy upon learning that Buckeberg is alive, though, as Hanson noted, the situation brings complicated feelings.
“It’s a lot to unpack,” he commented. “After 62 years, it was surprising to connect with her so swiftly.” He felt fortunate to have gained the insights he did during their conversation.
