A Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning and fled to Europe has voluntarily returned to the United States after four months on the run. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was charged on Wednesday with misdemeanor obstruction for orchestrating an elaborate ruse that sparked an extensive and costly lake search for his body.
A Bold Disappearance
According to the criminal complaint, Borgwardt’s plan began on August 11 after attending church with his wife and three children. That night, he drove 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake, Wisconsin’s deepest lake, to stage his disappearance.
Borgwardt paddled his kayak to the middle of the lake, where he capsized the vessel to make it appear he had drowned. He then inflated a hidden raft and paddled back to shore, dumping personal belongings, including his cell phone and identification, into the water. Struggling to escape through waist-deep muck, he later returned to wash away his muddy footprints before using an electric bike to travel 70 miles overnight to Madison, where he boarded a bus to Toronto.
From Canada, Borgwardt flew to Paris and ultimately settled in the country of Georgia. His disappearance followed months of research into lake deaths and how to make a drowning appear believable, according to investigators.
Tracking Borgwardt
Authorities launched an extensive search for Borgwardt’s body after his supposed drowning, spending over $35,000 on the effort. Investigators later discovered clues on a laptop he had left behind, including a photo of a woman he traveled to meet, passport photos, and communications about moving funds to foreign banks.
Despite his attempts to cover his tracks, Borgwardt told investigators he knew he would eventually be found. He had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January, ostensibly for his family, which investigators believe added to the suspicion around his disappearance.
Return and Legal Proceedings
Borgwardt returned to Wisconsin willingly and turned himself in to the Green Lake County sheriff’s office on Tuesday. The following day, he appeared in court, where a judge entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. He was released on $500 bail, a sum he would only need to pay if he misses a future court appearance.
During the hearing, Borgwardt told the judge he had just $20 in his wallet and opted to represent himself, though he was advised he could seek a court-appointed lawyer.
