Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death and fled to Europe: investigators

Investigators say a Wisconsin kayaker faked his death earlier this year to leave his family and flee to Europe.

Ryan Borgwardt, a resident of Watertown, Wisconsin, disappeared in mid-August after an apparent kayaking accident on Green Lake. But what initially seemed like a tragic accident could be an elaborate ruse involving digital deception, travel documents and life insurance.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said Friday that the Dodge County Sheriff's Office notified his agency on Aug. 12 that Borgwardt had disappeared after kayaking on Green Lake. Borgwardt's wife said he sent her a text message at 10:49 p.m. on Aug. 11 telling her he was on his way to shore.

The search for Borgwardt began after his kayak was found overturned on the lake, where the water is over 200 feet deep. His life jacket and fishing rod were discovered nearby, but divers who searched more than 1,500 hectares of lake bottom found no trace of him.

After almost two months, during which divers explored the lake several times, the search teams were left empty-handed.

What did the investigation reveal?

Authorities discovered a suspicious timeline and digital evidence that pointed to a calculated escape plan.

In early October, Podoll's department learned that Canadian law enforcement had run Borgwardt's name through their databases the day after he was reported missing.

Although it is unclear why they mentioned his name, Borgwardt reported the disappearance of his passport in May and obtained a replacement. However, according to Podoll, his family quickly found his original passport, suggesting a deliberate trick.

Investigators then found a digital trace on a laptop. They did not say who the laptop belonged to, but said it was wiped down the day Borgwardt disappeared. However, the hard drive revealed plans to move to Europe, funding requests and interactions with a woman in Uzbekistan.

In addition, Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January, which caused a stir among investigators.

“At this point, we believe Ryan is alive and likely living in Eastern Europe,” Podoll said in the news release.

How is the investigation going?

Podoll, of Green Lake County, is currently coordinating with federal and international authorities to confirm Borgwardt's whereabouts, determine whether charges will be filed against him and determine whether anyone helped him.

The sheriff also plans to seek reimbursement for search costs, as Borgwardt's actions have not only strained resources but also left his family and search teams struggling to deal with the fallout from his apparent disappearance.

Bruce's Legacy, a nonprofit that specializes in drowning victim recovery, conducted extensive underwater searches covering about 1,500 acres, often in more than 100 feet of water, sifting through hours of sonar data.

Keith Cormican, who founded Bruce's Legacy in honor of his brother, a Black River Falls firefighter who drowned while searching for a drowning victim in 1995, condemned Borgwardt's actions.

He described the strain on his team as “disheartening” and said he could have used the time he spent searching for Borgwardt to help other families.

“You meet all kinds of species in the world, and I guess this guy faked his disappearance to the extreme, so that's a first,” Cormican said. “It definitely cost us a lot of heartache, a lot of money, repairs and equipment. I just hope he comes forward sooner rather than later so the family can move on.”

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.