Wife of ‘missing’ Wisconsin man Ryan Borgwardt files for divorce after he ‘faked his own death to run away with his mistress’
The wife of the Wisconsin man who tried to fake his own death in a kayaking accident before fleeing abroad to be with his mistress has filed for divorce, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, is said to have pulled off the elaborate stunt to be with his mistress in Eastern Europe, spending four months in Georgia before returning to America.
His wife Emily, 44, has now filed for legal divorce or annulment, the day after the father-of-three landed back on US soil.
Court records seen by DailyMail.com confirm that Emily, who lives in Watertown, Wisconsin, filed the documents almost immediately after returning to Dodge County, although it is unclear whether the pair had any contact.
Borgwardt turned himself in to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday after going missing on August 12.
Lawyers for Borgwardt’s wife declined to comment on the divorce filing when contacted by DailyMail.com.
Documents filed in Dodge County Circuit Court say the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” with Borgwardt’s wife seeking full custody of their three children.
The couple, who married in 2002, have not yet reached a written agreement regarding financial support and custody of their three minor children.
Ryan Borgwardt’s wife Emily, (pictured) 44, has filed for legal divorce or annulment, the day after the father of three ended up back on US soil
Borgwardt was seen shuffling into the courtroom in handcuffs after his dramatic return to the US on Wednesday. His return comes four months after he was initially thought to have drowned while kayaking in Green Lake
Borgwardt is listed in the petition as having an unknown address, despite telling Green Lake County Court yesterday that his address was the Watertown property he owns with his wife.
Emily is listed as working at Trinity St. Luke’s Lutheran School, with Borgwardt listed as “self-employed.”
She requests that the children remain in her care and that her estranged husband pay child support.
The documents also show that she is seeking division of property and debts, and that Bordwardt wants to contribute to her costs and attorney fees.
Both parties are prohibited from harassing each other for more than 90 days and from removing the children from Wisconsin without permission from the other parent or the court.
Authorities searched for Borgwardt for 54 days before announcing on November 8 that they did not believe he had drowned in the lake, but that he had faked his own death.
The married father of three is said to have pulled off the elaborate stunt to be with his mistress in Eastern Europe.
Four months after he initially disappeared, he was led into the Green Lake County courthouse in handcuffs on Wednesday, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit.
Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife Emily and children (photo)
He was charged with obstruction in connection with the massive $35,000 manhunt launched after his disappearance on August 11.
Borgwardt remained largely silent during the hearing, except when he told the court he would represent himself.
A judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and set a $500 bond on the obstruction charge, which Borgwardt will only have to post if he violates the terms of his release from jail.
Police learned in October that the Wisconsin man had crossed the border Canada a few days after his disappearance and had communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.
After making contact with him “almost daily,” they were finally able to convince him to come home, saying he had returned voluntarily, “for his family.”
Police have not released any details about where he was staying or who he was with when he went missing.
They confirmed that he flew back to an international airport in the US of his own accord.
At a news conference this morning, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll would only say that Borgwardt faces “a number of charges,” including “obstruction.”
The complaint states that Borgwardt exposed his affair after backing up his electronic devices, sending a photo of his mistress to a laptop he left at home.
However, he emphasized that Borgwardt voluntarily came alone and flew to an international airport before turning himself in at the local police station.
He declined to confirm whether Borgwardt has had contact with his wife of 22 years since his return.
Authorities revealed that he deliberately turned his kayak over and threw his phone and belongings into the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50 miles to Madison overnight.
Borgwardt had spoken to a woman in Uzbekistan before receiving a new passport and $375,000 in life insurance in January.
They managed to make contact and in November Borgwardt – who had not contacted his family since his disappearance – sent a video showing his apartment and telling officers: “I’m safe, no problems.”
But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also supported by the Sheriff’s Office.
“They’re doing well, that’s probably the best thing you can say,” Vande Kolk said last month.
“I can’t compare their situation to anything I’ve ever experienced in law enforcement, I don’t have any references.”
Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of “personal matters,” Podoll said.
He also told them he chose Green Lake for his master plan because it is the deepest in Wisconsin.
The plan was elaborately planned, with Borgwardt even leaving his original passport at home when he disappeared.
Police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop’s hard drive and wiping his search history.
Before his disappearance, he changed all email addresses linked to his bank accounts and transferred money to a foreign bank account.