Wisconsin Authorities Allege Man Faked Kayaking Death, Traveled to Europe

Law enforcement officials in Green Lake, Wisconsin, have indicated that a local individual, reported missing after a kayaking incident this summer, might have orchestrated his own disappearance and traveled to Europe. Matthew Vande Kolk, Chief Deputy Sheriff for Green Lake County, informed the BBC, “We believe that he is alive. We know that he’s not in our lake.” Ryan Borgwardt, aged 45, a married man and father of three, was last observed on 12 August at Green Lake during a solo fishing excursion. Investigators uncovered indications that Mr. Borgwardt utilized his passport subsequent to his vanishing, potentially journeying to Europe. Mr. Borgwardt’s final text message to his wife was sent on the evening of 11 August, stating he was turning his kayak around and would soon be heading to shore. However, when he did not come back home, his family alerted law enforcement, prompting the deployment of a search-and-rescue team. This team located his capsized kayak and life jacket on the lake. Mr. Borgwardt’s vehicle, trailer, fishing rod, and wallet were all discovered abandoned at the adjacent park. Following 54 days of comprehensive search operations involving divers, drones, sonar, and cadaver dogs, no remains were found, and no conclusive evidence emerged. This outcome led the sheriff’s office to broaden the scope of its inquiry. The investigation advanced significantly in October when detectives ascertained that Mr. Borgwardt’s name had been processed by Canadian border officials on 13 August, the day following his reported disappearance. Subsequently, investigators ascertained that Mr. Borgwardt had reported his passport as lost or stolen and had been issued a replacement document before he vanished. His original passport was later retrieved from his wife, suggesting he might have used the newly issued document for travel. Pursuing this information, officials performed a digital forensic examination of Mr. Borgwardt’s laptop. This analysis revealed that he had secured a $375,000 life insurance policy, moved funds to an overseas bank account, taken a photograph of his new passport, and modified his email address before his disappearance. Furthermore, after these actions, it was uncovered that Mr. Borgwardt had replaced the laptop’s hard drive and erased his browser history on the day he went missing. Authorities also uncovered evidence suggesting his potential travel to a European location. As the investigation progresses, the sheriff’s office informed the BBC that they are assessing potential criminal charges, which may encompass obstruction and fraudulent actions. Mr. Borgwardt’s family is collaborating with authorities, and the chief deputy sheriff noted that his wife has demonstrated exceptional resilience, being “extremely strong.” Mr. Vande Kolk conveyed to the BBC, “She has done everything that we have asked of her in regards to helping us with information, and holding on to information. Unfortunately, we had to keep this quiet for about a month from the time that we started thinking that he was somewhere else, until we had enough information that we could share with the world, and she did that.” He further stated, “Our hope is then, at some point we’ll be able to hold Ryan accountable for his actions and request restitution.” Authorities affirmed that their search for Mr. Borgwardt persists, as they believe he is alive and located in Eastern Europe, along with any individuals who might have aided him in fabricating his death and escaping. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.