A Wisconsin father-of-three who faked his own death before fleeing abroad to be with his mistress has revealed exactly how he almost pulled off the incredible stunt.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, who mysteriously disappeared after setting out on a solo fishing expedition in August, has finally opened up about how he pulled off the ridiculous plan.
The Watertown resident said he deliberately overturned his kayak and dumped his phone while fishing on Wisconsin’s Green Lake, he told Green Lake County police in a video conference call earlier this month — the first time any such incident has occurred. he has been heard since his disappearance. .
The 45-year-old, who appeared on screen in an orange shirt and with a blank face of emotion, said he then paddled to shore in an inflatable boat and rode an electric bicycle through the night to Madison, a distance of about 110 kilometers, Green Lake. Sheriff Mark Podoll said.
From there, he took a bus to Detroit, then boarded a bus to Canada and boarded a plane there, Podoll added.
Borgwardt also got a new passport and tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop’s hard drive and wiping his search history.
He was also found to be chatting online with a woman from Uzbekistan – his alleged mistress.
Researchers also noted that the father of three had changed all email addresses linked to his bank accounts and inquired about transferring money to foreign bank accounts.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, who mysteriously disappeared after being sent on a solo fishing expedition in August, has finally opened up about how he pulled off the ridiculous plan.
The Watertown resident said he deliberately overturned his kayak and dumped his phone while fishing on Wisconsin’s Green Lake, he told Green Lake County police in a video conference call earlier this month — the first time any such incident has occurred. he has been heard since his disappearance. . Pictured: Ryan Borgwardt (left) with his wife Emily and their three children
The 45-year-old, who appeared on screen wearing an orange shirt and a face devoid of emotion, said he then paddled to shore in an inflatable boat and rode through the night on an electric bicycle to Madison, a distance of about 110 kilometers. In the photo: Ryan Borgwardt with his wife Emily
The elaborate planner had also taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased an airline gift card in January.
Police are still verifying his description of what happened.
After he failed to return home from his solo fishing trip on August 11, his concerned family alerted police, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation.
His kayak, life jacket, water bottle, tackle box and fishing rod were found in the water and his car was also found nearby.
Emergency services searched the lake and surrounding area for 54 grueling days before finally deciding to abandon the search on the ground, citing suspicions of foul play.
Police learned later in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance, on August 13, and had communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.
Green County Chief Deputy Vande Kolk confirmed to DailyMail.com that the two were “connected online” but said he could not elaborate further at this stage.
Through her, the sheriff’s office was able to contact Borgwardt and ask him to answer questions only he would know and to film a video of himself, which he did.
In the video, Borgwardt — who has not contacted his family since faking his own death — shows up at his apartment and tells officers, “I’m safe, no problems.”
Meanwhile, his devastated wife Emily and their three children mourn their loss, believing he had probably been dead for months.
After he failed to return home from his solo fishing trip on August 11, his concerned family alerted police, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation. Pictured: Authorities search for missing married man
Emergency services searched the lake and surrounding area for 54 grueling days before finally deciding to abandon the search on the ground, citing suspicions of foul play. Pictured: Authorities use divers, drones, sonar and cadaver K-9s and more to search for missing father
Meanwhile, his devastated wife Emily and their three children mourn their loss, believing he had probably been dead for months. In the photo: Borgwardt with his wife Emily
Authorities still don’t know exactly where the married man is, but they suspect he is in Eastern Europe.
‘We don’t know where he is. We know he’s not in our lake,” Podoll said.
Vande Kolk added that he has no idea when Borgwardt plans to return, but that he is encouraged by the communication that has been established.
“We are making continuous progress and the fact that he has kept in touch is encouraging,” Vande Kolk said.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search.
Authorities used divers, drones, sonar and cadaver K-9s and more to search for the missing father, according to ABC News.
Borgwardt could also be charged with obstruction.
Authorities and his family remain hopeful that he will make the decision to return home.
“He needs to come home to his children,” he said at the news conference, saying officers are “trying to touch his heart.”