GREEN LAKE, WIS. (AP) — Authorities said a Wisconsin man who left his wife and three children behind after faking his own drowning this summer has been found in Eastern Europe and is in contact with law enforcement, but he has not promised to return home.
Mark Podoll, the sheriff for Green Lake County, stated on Thursday that once authorities located Ryan Borgwardt, he started corresponding with them on November 11. Borgwardt sent police that day from an undisclosed location, according to a video the sheriff provided.
While authorities continue to tug at his heart to return home, the sheriff stated that no criminal charges have been brought and that he does not think they will be required.
The following information relates to Borgwardt and his disappearance:
Who is he?
Known for its German roots, religious schools, and two dams on the Rock River, Watertown is a city of roughly 23,000 people northwest of Milwaukee where Borgwardt, who is in his mid-40s, lives with his wife and kids.
He vanished when?
According to the sheriff, his agency was notified on August 12 that Borgwardt had not been heard from since the day before, when he left his house to go kayaking on Green Lake, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. According to Borgwardt’s wife, he texted her at 10:49 p.m. to let her know he was going ashore.
How did the search go?
Borgwardt’s car and trailer were discovered by deputies close to Green Lake. In a section of the lake where the water is roughly 200 feet (60 meters) deep, his kayak was found overturned with a life jacket still fastened to it. Later, Borgwardt’s fishing rod was discovered by an angler. Divers repeatedly searched the lake during the more than 50-day search for his remains.
How was Borgwardt discovered by authorities?
Investigators hypothesized that he had made it seem as though he had drowned in order to go meet a woman he had been corresponding with in Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, based on clues such as the fact that he reported his passport lost or stolen and obtained a new one a few months prior to his disappearance. In response to a question concerning his knowledge of the woman, Podoll indicated that police enforcement had been in touch with Borgwardt via a Russian-speaking woman.
His identification was verified by a video he produced and emailed them on November 11 and by asking him questions that the sheriff claimed only Borgwardt would know. Since then, he has communicated with a sheriff’s department representative virtually every day. On Thursday, however, Podoll stated that it was unknown exactly where Borgwardt was in Eastern Europe.
What was contained in the video that he forwarded to the police?
Borgwardt, wearing an orange T-shirt, stares straight into the camera, which was presumably captured on a cellphone, without a smile. Borgwardt briefly pans the camera to reveal a door and bare walls before stating that he is at his apartment. “No problem, I’m safe and secure,” he says.
How did he pretend to be dead?
Borgwardt told authorities that he paddled an inflatable boat to shore after overturning his kayak on the lake and dropping his phone inside. He informed authorities that he picked Green Lake because, at 237 feet (more than 72 meters), it is the deepest lake in Wisconsin. According to the sheriff, he then traveled around 70 miles (110 kilometers) through the night to Madison on an electric bike that had been hidden beside a boat launch. According to Borgwardt’s narrative, he then took a bus to Detroit before boarding a plane in Canada. According to Podoll, police are still confirming Borgwardt’s account of what transpired.
What made him do it?
According to the sheriff, Borgwardt pretended to be dead and ran away due to personal issues since he believed it was the proper thing to do. In January, investigators discovered that he had purchased a $375,000 life insurance policy for his family. According to Podoll, he was only going to attempt to improve his mental state, and this was the way things would be.
What comes next?
According to Podoll, Borgwardt has not yet made up his mind to go back home, and if he does, it will be of his own free will. He is being reminded by deputies of the significance of going back home and tidying up the mess he created. Although no charges have been brought against Borgwardt as of yet, the sheriff proposed that he might be prosecuted with hindering the inquiry into his disappearance. It is estimated that the more than month-long hunt for Borgwardt cost at least $35,000. According to Podoll, Borgwardt informed authorities that he did not anticipate the search lasting longer than two weeks and that his main worry is the response of the community in the event that he returns.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
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