Police in Wisconsin say they apprehended a father of three accused of faking his death. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, allegedly staged his death in a kayaking accident in Green Lake in August. He reportedly took off for Eastern Europe and sent a video proving he was still alive in November. Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll announced on December 10 that Borgwardt was back in the United States and in police custody.
It’s unclear why Borgwardt allegedly staged his death, but now that he’s in jail, Podoll said, “We can stand here feeling relieved,” WTMJ reported.
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The father went missing during a solo kayaking trip.
According to police, Borgwardt’s family reported him missing on August 12, 2024, after he didn’t return from a kayaking trip on Green Lake. The family believed, at the time, that the father of three had drowned. For weeks, the tight-knit Wisconsin community searched for Borgwardt, to no avail. Police found an overturned kayak and lifejacket and his car near Dodge Memorial Park but not him, the New York Post reported.
Police discovered Borgwardt had left the country.
After searching his computer, police found that Borgwardt had begun a relationship with a woman in Uzbekistan and opened a bank account to move funds to foreign countries, per the Post. He reportedly wiped the computer, but his digital footprint remained. The father of three appeared to be starting a new life and had purchased a $375,000 life insurance policy months before he disappeared.
Borgwardt contacted police in November.
Podell explained during a November press briefing that Borgwardt sent deputies a video confirming he was “safe, secure, no problem.” The sheriff said he would not give details as to why the man left the United States other than, “He just had personal matters going on, and he felt this was the right thing [to] do.”
Less than a month later, he is back on United States soil and under arrest.
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The father reportedly came back to the United States of his own accord.
In a December 11 news conference, Podell declined to give details as to why Borgwardt returned but confirmed he got onto a plane voluntarily. The sheriff also refused to say where the father of three had been all of this time. He was booked into Green Lake County Jail on December 10.
Podell stated during the news conference that Borgwardt faces multiple charges, including obstruction of justice. The sheriff confirmed no one else will be charged in the case. Borgwardt also will have to pay restitution to the county for search efforts. The case remains under investigation.
