Ryan Borgwardt, the man who faked his own death and fled the country, voluntarily returned to the United States and is now in custody in Wisconsin, according to the report. Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff announced Wednesday that Borgwardt contacted authorities to inform them of his return and landed in the United States on Tuesday, although the sheriff did not reveal the location of his departure.
Sheriff Mark Podoll explained that authorities are still figuring out Borgwardt’s whereabouts and who he was with during his escape, but emphasized that Borgwardt has “cooperated” with authorities since his return.
When asked what motivated Borgwardt to return, Podoll responded simply: “His family, I guess.” The sheriff would not confirm whether Borgwardt had been in contact with his wife and children. Borgwardt, who faces charges including obstruction, is now awaiting a court appearance. Podoll confirmed.
The case began on Aug. 11, when Borgwardt texted his wife that he was turning his kayak around on Green Lake and would soon head to shore. However, Borgwardt, a father of three, never returned home. reported the New York Post.
Lifeguards later found his overturned kayak and life jacket in the lake, leading them to believe he had drowned. Despite exhaustive searches using divers, drones, sonar and K-9 cadavers, Borgwardt’s body was never found.
In October, investigators discovered that Borgwardt’s name had been verified by law enforcement in Canada just two days after she disappeared. Authorities also discovered that he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan, raising further suspicions about his disappearance.
Other concerning signs included Borgwardt clearing his browser history, asking about transferring funds to foreign banks, obtaining a new passport, and obtaining a new life insurance policy.
Authorities confirmed that Borgwardt was alive and out of the country, although his exact location was unknown. After communicating with a woman who spoke Russian, they were able to contact Borgwardt in November. While he confirmed he was safe, he did not reveal his location.
Sheriff Podoll revealed that Borgwardt had faked his death by hiding an electric bicycle near the pier. He rowed a child-sized float boat onto the lake, capsized the kayak and discarded his phone.
Borgwardt then paddled to shore, rode an electric bike to Madison, Wisconsin, boarded a bus to Detroit and headed to the Canadian border before finally boarding a plane to leave the country. Podoll noted that Green Lake, one of the deepest lakes in the state, was a strategic location for Borgwardt’s plan.