Wisconsin husband who faked kayak accident death films ‘proof of life’ video after running away with mistress
A Wisconsin husband who faked his own death and eloped with his mistress taunted police by sending them a “proof of life” video but refused to tell them where he is.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, purposely overturned his kayak on Green Lake on August 11, dumped his phone and heard in the water before paddling an inflatable boat to safety and e-biking more than 50 miles to Madison overnight. Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
They learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and had communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.
Through her, the Sheriff’s Office was able to contact the father of three and ask him to answer questions only he would know and film a video of himself, which he did.
In the video, Borgwardt – who has had no contact with his family since his disappearance – showed his apartment and told officers: “I’m safe, no problems.”
Authorities do not know exactly where the married man is, but they suspect he is in Eastern Europe. They do not believe he is in any danger and have been in daily contact with him since Nov. 11, Sheriff Mark Podoll said.
“He has not yet decided to return home,” Podoll said at a news conference on Thursday.
Regardless, contacting Borgwardt was a “major turning point” in the investigation, according to Podoll.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, purposely turned his kayak over on Green Lake on August 11, dumped his phone and heard in the water before paddling an inflatable boat to safety and e-biking more than 50 miles to Madison overnight
They 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 (pictured together) and children.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search and Borgwardt could be charged with obstruction
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the money used in the search and Borgwardt could be charged with obstruction, the sheriff said.
Podoll hopes the father of three will make the decision to return home in time.
“He needs to come home to his children,” he said at the news conference, saying officers are “trying to touch his heart.”
Authorities searched for the Wisconsin man for 54 days before announcing Nov. 8 that they did not believe the father had drowned in the lake but that he had faked his own death.
Investigators revealed that Borgwardt had spoken to a woman in Uzbekistan before getting a new passport and a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.
Borgwardt is said to have used his new passport in Canada a day after he was reported missing.
The plan was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he disappeared, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop’s hard drive and wiping his search history.
Podoll hopes the father of three will make the decision to return home in time. “He needs to come home to his children,” he said at the news conference, saying officers are “trying to touch his heart.”
Before his disappearance, he changed all email addresses linked to his bank accounts and transferred money to a foreign bank account.
Borgwardt’s devastated wife Emily and their three children have been mourning their loss for months, believing he was probably dead.
She is now being urged to join support groups for women with “runaway husbands” as her friends and community rally around her.
She and Borgwardt celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary in July 2024.