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Did Wisconsin's father of three fake death and flee to Europe?

Ryan Borgwardt, who was believed to be kayaking at the time, last texted his wife at 10:49 p.m. on Aug. 11, telling her he was “going to turn around and go ashore soon.” He never returned home.

GREEN LAKE — What started as a case of a missing kayaker in Green Lake County turned into something entirely different after local authorities came to believe that Ryan Borgwardt had staged his own disappearance.

The news broke on Nov. 8, when Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll held a news conference to reveal evidence that supported law enforcement's findings that Borgwardt faked his own death to get out of the country to Europe flee.

This ended an extensive 54-day search conducted by underwater drones, towed submersible sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams that failed to find Borgwardt's body.

Green Lake County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Vande Kolk told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin on Nov. 12 there were no further updates on the Borgwardt case.

Here's what we know so far.

Ryan Borgwardt Case Timeline: Key events in the case of Ryan Borgwardt, a Wisconsin man who may have faked his death

Who is Ryan Borgwardt?

According to the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, Borgwardt is a 44-year-old woodworker from Watertown.

He is married and has three children.

When was Borgwardt first reported missing?

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office initially sent a notice to the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office on August 12th that Borgwardt had not returned home after kayaking onto Green Lake on August 11th.

Borgwardt's wife told law enforcement that her last known contact with Borgwardt was via text message at 10:49 p.m. on Aug. 11, when he said he would “turn around and go ashore soon.”

Sheriff's deputies found his overturned kayak wearing a life jacket in the middle of Green Lake's western basin after initially locating Borgwardt's vehicle and trailer at Dodge Memorial Park.

Location sharing data showed the last digital contact from Borgwardt's phone was at Big Green Lake near Dodge Memorial Park.

How extensive was the search for Borgwardt?

The search lasted 54 days and included Sheriff's Office Watercraft, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, volunteer search organization Bruce's Legacy, Nortons Dry Dock and Pierless Boat Rentals.

Aerial and underwater drones, towable diving sonar, divers and three K-9 cadaver teams were deployed.

Why do authorities believe Borgwardt staged his death and fled to Europe?

According to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, law enforcement shifted the focus of their investigation on Oct. 7 because Bruce's Legacy's expertise suggested Borgwardt was not in the search area.

With assistance from the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, authorities quickly revealed that Borgwardt's name was checked by Canadian law enforcement on August 13 – a day after he was reported missing.

This led to the discovery that Borgwardt was given a second passport after reporting the first missing. According to Podoll, his family was able to easily find the first pass.

A digital forensic analysis of his laptop revealed the following:

  • Communication with a woman from Uzbekistan
  • Borgwardt took out a new $375,000 life insurance policy in January
  • Requests to transfer funds to foreign bank accounts.
  • Changed email addresses associated with financial accounts on the day of its release.
  • The synchronization of the laptop with Borgwardt's iCloud on August 11th.
  • Photos of passports.
  • An airline gift card.

More about the case: Authorities in Wisconsin believe the kayaker staged his disappearance and fled to Europe

Is the investigation still ongoing?

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office is working with the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations and the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center to “continue to decipher available digital information.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office at 920-294-4134, ext. 1162 or text “GETTHEM” to 847411. You can also call 1-800-GET THEM.

Contact Justin Marville at [email protected].

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