A Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning in Green Lake this summer has been in contact with police from an undisclosed location in Eastern Europe. Ryan Borgwardt has been communicating with authorities since November 11, providing details on how he staged his disappearance and fled the country.
Borgwardt confessed to overturning his kayak, discarding his phone in Green Lake, paddling to shore on an inflatable boat, and then traveling to Madison on an electric bike. From Madison, he continued his journey to Detroit, Canada, and eventually boarded a plane to an unknown destination in Eastern Europe.
Law enforcement officials are currently verifying the information provided by Borgwardt. While no criminal charges have been filed, authorities are urging him to return home, emphasizing the importance of being with his family for Christmas.
Prior to his disappearance, Borgwardt had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan, leading investigators to suspect that he faked his death to meet with her. The investigation revealed that Borgwardt had obtained a new passport months before his disappearance and had taken out a life insurance policy for his family.
Despite the ongoing communication with police, Borgwardt has not committed to returning home, stating that the decision is his to make. The sheriff's department had initially treated his disappearance as a possible drowning incident, but subsequent evidence pointed towards a premeditated plan to fake his own death.
Authorities are hopeful that Borgwardt will choose to return home voluntarily, allowing him to reunite with his wife and three children. The case continues to unfold as police work to confirm the details provided by Borgwardt and determine the next steps in the investigation.
