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Wisconsin Man Fakes Drowning, Flees To Eastern Europe

This still image provided by Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mark Podoll holds a news conference regarding Ryan Borgwardt, who faked his own drowning this summer on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024

A Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning and left his family to go to Eastern Europe has been taken into police custody. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was booked into the Green Lake County Jail on Tuesday afternoon. No charges have been listed at this time.

The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office announced that a news conference will be held on Wednesday morning to provide updates on the Borgwardt case. Further information is expected to be shared during the conference.

Last month, Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed that Borgwardt had been in communication with authorities since November 11 after disappearing for three months. Despite initial reluctance, Borgwardt eventually disclosed that he faked his death due to personal reasons.

Borgwardt explained that he staged his drowning by overturning his kayak in Green Lake, dumping his phone, and then paddling to shore in an inflatable boat. He then embarked on a journey, traveling through various modes of transportation to evade detection.

The search for Borgwardt's body, which lasted over a month, incurred costs of at least $35,000. Authorities are now working to verify the details provided by Borgwardt regarding his disappearance and subsequent actions.

More information is expected to be revealed during the upcoming news conference as the investigation into this unusual case continues.

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