A Wisconsin father who tried to fake his own death in a kayaking accident before fleeing abroad shuffled into court in handcuffs after his dramatic return to the US.
45-year-old married Ryan Borgwardt is said to have performed the elaborate stunt to be with his mistress in Eastern Europe.
The father of three was led into Green Lake County Court wearing an orange jail jumpsuit Wednesday afternoon, four months after he initially disappeared.
He was charged with obstruction in connection with a massive manhunt launched after his disappearance on August 11.
A judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and set a $500 bond for the obstruction charge that Borgwardt will only have to post if he violates the terms of his release from jail.
The Wisconsin man said he would represent himself, but a court-appointed attorney is also possible.
The police learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border Canada a few days after his disappearance and had communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian.
After making contact with him “almost daily,” they were finally able to convince him to come home, saying he had returned voluntarily, “for his family.”
Married Wisconsin father Ryan Borgwardt, who tried to fake his own death in a kayaking accident before fleeing abroad, shuffled into court in handcuffs after his dramatic return to the US
His return comes four months after he was initially thought to have drowned while kayaking in Green Lake
He was charged with obstruction in connection with a massive manhunt launched after his disappearance on August 11, to which he pleaded not guilty.
He was booked into the Green Lake County Jail on Tuesday with a mug shot showing him wearing the same jail clothing.
Police have not released any details about where he was staying or who he was with when he went missing.
At a news conference this morning, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll would only say that Borgwardt faces “a number of charges,” including “obstruction.”
However, he emphasized that Borgwardt voluntarily came alone and flew to an international airport before turning himself in at the local police station.
He declined to confirm whether Borgwardt has had contact with his wife of 22 years since his return.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them and what they have done for a family. We did not give up and we can stand here today with a sense of relief,” Podoll said of his officers.
Authorities searched for the Wisconsin man for 54 days before announcing Nov. 8 that they did not believe he drowned in the lake but that he had faked his own death.
Wisconsin father Ryan Borgwardt, who tried to fake his own death in a kayaking accident and fled abroad, decided to return to the US ‘for his family,’ police said
Authorities learned in October that Borgwardt had crossed the border into Canada a few days after his disappearance and communicated with an Uzbek woman who spoke Russian, leaving behind his wife Emily (pictured) and children.
They revealed he deliberately turned his kayak over and threw his phone and belongings into the water before paddling to safety on an inflatable boat and e-biking more than 50 miles to Madison overnight.
Borgwardt had spoken to a woman in Uzbekistan before receiving a new passport and $375,000 in life insurance in January.
They managed to make contact and in November Borgwardt – who had not contacted his family since his disappearance – sent a video showing his apartment and telling officers: “I’m safe, no problems.”
But the same cannot be said for his heartbroken family, who are also supported by the Sheriff’s Office.
“They’re doing well, that’s probably the best thing you can say,” Vande Kolk said last month.
“I can’t compare their situation to anything I’ve ever experienced in law enforcement, I don’t have any references.”
Borgwardt told authorities last month that he faked his death because of “personal matters,” according to the Podoll.
He also told them he chose Green Lake for his master plan because it is the deepest in Wisconsin.
He has since returned to the U.S. of his own volition and is being held in the Green Lake County Jail
Sheriff Mark Podoll declined to say where Borgwardt had been, but it is thought he fled to Eastern Europe
The plan was elaborately planned. Borgwardt left his original passport at home when he disappeared, and police said he tried to cover his tracks by removing his laptop’s hard drive and wiping his search history.
Before his disappearance, he changed all email addresses linked to his bank accounts and transferred money to a foreign bank account.