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Ryan Borgwardt: Wisconsin Man Who Faked His Drowning Found Alive, Communicating from Eastern Europe

GREEN LAKE, Wis. — In a follow upo story to our srticle last week on Ryan Borgwardt, a Wisconsin man who staged his own drowning to escape his life and family has been in daily communication with authorities from Eastern Europe, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said Thursday. Despite explaining his actions, the man, Ryan Borgwardt, has not committed to returning home.

Borgwardt disappeared for three months before reestablishing contact with authorities on Nov. 11, Podoll said during a press conference. In a video sent to the sheriff’s office that day, Borgwardt assured them of his safety.

“The great news is we know that he is alive and well,” Podoll said. “The bad news is we don’t know exactly where Ryan is, and he has not yet decided to return home.”

In the video, Borgwardt, wearing an orange T-shirt, looked directly into the camera and said, “I’m safe and secure, no problem. I hope this works.” He appeared to be in a bare apartment.

How He Faked His Disappearance

Borgwardt reportedly fled due to unspecified “personal matters,” Podoll said, though the sheriff did not elaborate. Borgwardt detailed how he staged his disappearance: he traveled 50 miles from his Watertown home to Green Lake, overturned his kayak, discarded his phone in the lake, and paddled to shore in an inflatable boat. He chose Green Lake, the state’s deepest lake at 237 feet, to stage the scene convincingly.

After leaving the lake, Borgwardt used an electric bike to travel 70 miles to Madison, took a bus to Detroit, and then another bus to Canada, where he boarded a flight to Europe, Podoll said.

Investigators are still verifying the details of his escape, which Borgwardt outlined to authorities.

Financial and Digital Evidence

Before his disappearance, Borgwardt obtained a new passport in May, three months prior to vanishing. Police later discovered digital evidence on his laptop suggesting he planned to relocate to Europe. The laptop had a replaced hard drive, cleared browsers, and files indicating he had communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan, moved money, and researched foreign banks.

Borgwardt also took out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January for his family, but it did not benefit him directly, Podoll said.

Canadian authorities flagged Borgwardt’s name in their database one day after he disappeared, raising investigators’ suspicions that his drowning had been staged.

Investigation Costs and Potential Charges

The search for Borgwardt, including divers combing the lake, lasted more than 50 days and cost at least $35,000. Podoll said Borgwardt could face charges for obstructing the investigation, but no charges have been filed yet.

The sheriff emphasized that Borgwardt did not anticipate the search would last more than two weeks. Borgwardt’s reluctance to return appears to stem from concerns about how his community would react, Podoll said.

“He thought his plan was going to pan out, but it didn’t go the way he had planned,” Podoll said. “Now we’re trying to give him a different plan to come back.”

A Call to Return Home

Authorities are urging Borgwardt to return, appealing to his emotions. “Christmas is coming,” Podoll said. “And what better gift could your kids get than to be there for Christmas?” Borgwardt may believe that the police with give him brand new bracelets for Christmas.

Borgwardt disappeared on Aug. 11 after texting his wife that he was kayaking but planned to head to shore. Authorities found his overturned kayak, life jacket, and vehicle near Green Lake, prompting the search.

Authorities eventually contacted Borgwardt through a Russian-speaking woman tied to the investigation. It is unclear whether she is the same woman he was communicating with in Uzbekistan.

While Borgwardt’s current location and means of support remain uncertain, Podoll speculated he has found employment, saying, “He’s a smart guy.”

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