A woman from Wisconsin, missing for more than 60 years, has been confirmed to be alive. Audrey Buckeberg vanished in July 1962, when she was just 20 years old, from her home in Leesburg, according to a statement from the Salk County Sheriff’s Office.
Over the decades, investigators pursued various leads but made little progress until recently when Detective Isaac Hanson and his team revisited the cold case. According to the report, Buckeberg left with her babysitter, hitchhiking to Madison, Wisconsin, before taking a Greyhound bus to Indianapolis, Indiana.
Law enforcement utilized advanced DNA technologies, including resources like Ancestry.com, to locate her. Hanson mentioned that Buckeberg’s sister had an account on the site linked to an address, which led him to make a call to the local sheriff’s department. “I said, ‘Hey, there’s this woman at this address. Can you check it out?'” Hanson recounted, noting that a quick follow-up led to a 45-minute conversation.
“I’ll keep it private.”
When asked about the reasons for Buckeberg’s departure, Hanson chose not to disclose details from their conversation. “I told her to keep it private,” he stated, adding, “She’s followed her own path and seemed content with her choices.” It’s noted that her previous marriage had issues, including allegations of abuse.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Buckeberg had left voluntarily and is currently residing outside Wisconsin. They also commended both past and current investigators for their efforts, emphasizing the importance of resolving such cold cases.
It remains uncertain if Buckeberg will reconnect with her family.
