Topline: The man’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return.
Published: December 11, 2024 10:21 am ET
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Ryan Borgwardt
A Wisconsin man who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe to be with a woman is now back in the United States and in custody.
According to the Associated Press, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt was arrested and booked into the Green Lake County jail on Tuesday.
The specific charges against him have not been disclosed.
Borgwardt’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return. His family reported him missing, prompting authorities to deploy underwater drones, sonar equipment, and K9 cadaver teams in an attempt to locate him.
The search continued for 54 days until investigators uncovered that Borgwardt had hidden an eBike near the boat launch, discarded his kayak and fishing equipment, and left the lake in a child’s inflatable boat. He rode the bike to Madison, boarded a bus to Canada, and then flew to Europe.
On November 21, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed the details of Borgwardt’s scheme, noting that they had contacted him through a woman who spoke Russian. He provided a “proof of life” video showing his European apartment.
Last month, authorities revealed that Ryan Borgwardt began communicating with authorities on November 11, three months after his disappearance. However, Podoll noted that Borgwardt had not committed to returning to Wisconsin. Law enforcement had been “pulling at his heartstrings” to persuade him to come back, and Podoll suggested Borgwardt could face charges for obstructing the investigation into his disappearance, according to AP.
Borgwardt explained to authorities that he faked his death due to “personal matters.”
According to the sheriff, he told investigators that in mid-August, he traveled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he deliberately overturned his kayak, discarded his phone, and used an inflatable boat to paddle to shore. He chose Green Lake because it is the deepest lake in Wisconsin.
After leaving the lake, Borgwardt said he rode an electric bike for roughly 70 miles through the night to Madison. From there, he took a bus to Detroit, then another bus to Canada, where he boarded a flight to Europe.
At the time, Sheriff Podoll stated that investigators were working to verify Borgwardt’s account of the events.
The search for Borgwardt, which lasted over a month, cost the sheriff’s office at least $35,000. Borgwardt later told authorities that he didn’t expect the search to last more than two weeks.
The Green Lake Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference on the case for December 11.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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The man’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return.
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Published: December 11, 2024 10:21 am ET
Ryan Borgwardt
A Wisconsin man who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe to be with a woman is now back in the United States and in custody.
According to the Associated Press, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt was arrested and booked into the Green Lake County jail on Tuesday.
The specific charges against him have not been disclosed.
Borgwardt’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return. His family reported him missing, prompting authorities to deploy underwater drones, sonar equipment, and K9 cadaver teams in an attempt to locate him.
The search continued for 54 days until investigators uncovered that Borgwardt had hidden an eBike near the boat launch, discarded his kayak and fishing equipment, and left the lake in a child’s inflatable boat. He rode the bike to Madison, boarded a bus to Canada, and then flew to Europe.
On November 21, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed the details of Borgwardt’s scheme, noting that they had contacted him through a woman who spoke Russian. He provided a “proof of life” video showing his European apartment.
Last month, authorities revealed that Ryan Borgwardt began communicating with authorities on November 11, three months after his disappearance. However, Podoll noted that Borgwardt had not committed to returning to Wisconsin. Law enforcement had been “pulling at his heartstrings” to persuade him to come back, and Podoll suggested Borgwardt could face charges for obstructing the investigation into his disappearance, according to AP.
Borgwardt explained to authorities that he faked his death due to “personal matters.”
According to the sheriff, he told investigators that in mid-August, he traveled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he deliberately overturned his kayak, discarded his phone, and used an inflatable boat to paddle to shore. He chose Green Lake because it is the deepest lake in Wisconsin.
After leaving the lake, Borgwardt said he rode an electric bike for roughly 70 miles through the night to Madison. From there, he took a bus to Detroit, then another bus to Canada, where he boarded a flight to Europe.
At the time, Sheriff Podoll stated that investigators were working to verify Borgwardt’s account of the events.
The search for Borgwardt, which lasted over a month, cost the sheriff’s office at least $35,000. Borgwardt later told authorities that he didn’t expect the search to last more than two weeks.
The Green Lake Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference on the case for December 11.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Wisconsin Man in Custody After Allegedly Staging Drowning Death
The man’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 11, 2024 10:21 am ET
Ryan Borgwardt
A Wisconsin man who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe to be with a woman is now back in the United States and in custody.
According to the Associated Press, 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt was arrested and booked into the Green Lake County jail on Tuesday.
The specific charges against him have not been disclosed.
Borgwardt’s staged disappearance in August sparked a large-scale search in Green Lake after he went fishing in his kayak and failed to return. His family reported him missing, prompting authorities to deploy underwater drones, sonar equipment, and K9 cadaver teams in an attempt to locate him.
The search continued for 54 days until investigators uncovered that Borgwardt had hidden an eBike near the boat launch, discarded his kayak and fishing equipment, and left the lake in a child’s inflatable boat. He rode the bike to Madison, boarded a bus to Canada, and then flew to Europe.
On November 21, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed the details of Borgwardt’s scheme, noting that they had contacted him through a woman who spoke Russian. He provided a “proof of life” video showing his European apartment.
Last month, authorities revealed that Ryan Borgwardt began communicating with authorities on November 11, three months after his disappearance. However, Podoll noted that Borgwardt had not committed to returning to Wisconsin. Law enforcement had been “pulling at his heartstrings” to persuade him to come back, and Podoll suggested Borgwardt could face charges for obstructing the investigation into his disappearance, according to AP.
Borgwardt explained to authorities that he faked his death due to “personal matters.”
According to the sheriff, he told investigators that in mid-August, he traveled about 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, where he deliberately overturned his kayak, discarded his phone, and used an inflatable boat to paddle to shore. He chose Green Lake because it is the deepest lake in Wisconsin.
After leaving the lake, Borgwardt said he rode an electric bike for roughly 70 miles through the night to Madison. From there, he took a bus to Detroit, then another bus to Canada, where he boarded a flight to Europe.
At the time, Sheriff Podoll stated that investigators were working to verify Borgwardt’s account of the events.
The search for Borgwardt, which lasted over a month, cost the sheriff’s office at least $35,000. Borgwardt later told authorities that he didn’t expect the search to last more than two weeks.
The Green Lake Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference on the case for December 11.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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