Authorities have uncovered shocking details about Ryan Borgwardt, a 44-year-old father of three who staged his own death during a kayaking trip in August 2024, in what appears to be an elaborate plan to escape to Europe.
Borgwardt was reported missing on August 12 after he failed to return home from a fishing outing on Green Lake. His overturned kayak, along with personal items such as a tackle box, wallet, and fishing rod, were found during initial searches, leading authorities to suspect a tragic accident. The search, which lasted 54 days, involved divers, dogs, and volunteer recovery teams but yielded no body
New evidence shifted the investigation dramatically in October. Forensic analysis of a laptop provided by Borgwardt’s wife revealed he had replaced the hard drive, erased browser history, and synced his data to a cloud service on the day he vanished. Financial records indicated significant planning: Borgwardt moved funds to a foreign bank account, purchased airline gift cards, and communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan.
Authorities discovered Borgwardt’s passport had been used to cross into Canada on August 13, one day after his disappearance. This pivotal clue ended the search in Green Lake and redirected efforts toward tracking his movements abroad.
Further scrutiny revealed that Borgwardt had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January 2024, adding to suspicions of premeditation. The revelation has deeply affected his family. “It’s really hard because they thought their dad drowned. A day ago, they found out that he didn’t,” said Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, urging Borgwardt to come forward.
Authorities are now collaborating with federal and international agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, to locate Borgwardt and hold him accountable for any legal violations, including restitution for the costly search efforts.
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