Missing Wisconsin father faked his own death on river trail and ‘fled the country’
A missing father, initially believed dead after his kayak was found overturned in a lake, is now believed to have fled to Europe to start a new life with a woman from Uzbekistan he met online.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, disappeared on August 11 in Green Lake, Wisconsin, after heading out on a solo fishing trip.
His kayak, life jacket, water bottle, tackle box and fishing pole were found in the water and his car was still parked nearby. Emergency services searched the lake and surrounding area for 54 days before finally abandoning the search on the ground.
Investigators have since revealed that Borgwardt had obtained a new passport and was chatting online with a woman from Uzbekistan.
He changed all email addresses linked to his bank accounts and had made inquiries about transferring money to foreign bank accounts.
A missing father who was initially presumed dead after his kayak was found overturned in a lake is now believed to have fled to Europe to start a new life
Borgwardt’s devastated wife Emily and their three children mourn their loss, believing he had probably been dead for months
His kayak, life jacket, water bottle, tackle box and fishing pole were found in the water and his car was still parked nearby. Emergency services searched the lake and surrounding area for 54 days before finally abandoning the search on the ground
Burgwardt had also started a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased an airline gift card.
Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference, “We don’t know where he is. We know he’s not in us anymore.’
Agents suspect that Borgwardt is probably in Europe.
The plot was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he left and the life insurance policy was taken out in January.
He also completely wiped his computer, but authorities were able to restore his Internet searches.
His new passport was checked by Canadian law enforcement on August 13, the day after he was reported missing.
Investigators have since revealed that Borgwardt had obtained a new passport and was chatting with a woman from Uzbekistan online
Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference, “We don’t know where he is. We know he is not in us anymore.”
Authorities suspect Borgwardt is now in Europe as he was chatting online with a woman from Uzbekistan (photo)
Meanwhile, Borgwardt’s devastated wife Emily and their three children mourn their loss, believing he had probably been dead for months.
She is now being urged to join support groups for women with “runaway husbands” as her friends and community rally around her.
‘They thought their father had drowned. A day ago they found out that wasn’t the case,” Podoll said.
She and Borgwardt celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July 2024.
If he were to return to the United States, he would likely be hit with a bill to compensate for the hundreds of hours spent searching for him.
She and Borgwardt celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July 2024
Podoll described Emily as “a strong lady” during his press conference, adding that she “always responded and gave everything she could” during the investigation.
“I can’t imagine what she’s going through, and so can she.”
Officials urged Borgwardt to come home for the sake of his family.
If he were to return to the United States, he would likely have to pay a bill for the hundreds of hours spent searching for him.