Wisconsin
Here’s what we know about Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and is now in police custody
Ryan Borgwardt in contact with Green Lake County Sheriff’s Department
In a press conference on Nov. 21, 2024, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office stated that they have made contact with Ryan Borgwardt.
Provided by Green Lake County Sheriff
The Wisconsin man who staged his own disappearance and fled the country is now in police custody. Online records on Tuesday night showed Ryan Borgwardt in custody at Green Lake County Jail.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday to provide updates on the case.
Here’s what we know so far about Ryan Borgwardt, and how authorities uncovered his plan to fake his death and flee the country.
When did Ryan Borgwardt go missing in Wisconsin?
Authorities received notice Aug. 12 that Ryan Borgwardt went missing and was last known to be on Green Lake in his kayak, according to a press release from the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Bruce’s Legacy assisted with the search. Efforts to search the area were continued through August with no signs of Borgwardt.
Authorities learned that Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and had obtained another passport issued in May 2024. Additionally, authorities also discovered inquires about moving funds to foreign banks, communication with a woman from Uzbekistan and a new $375,000 life insurance policy.
“Due to the discovery of this new evidence, we are confident that Ryan is not located in Green Lake and we have ended all search efforts associated with Green Lake,” police said in a Nov. 8 press release.
Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said in a Nov. 21 press conference that authorities had been in daily contact with Borgwardt since Nov. 11, having first reached him via a “woman speaking Russian.”
At the time, law enforcement shared a video of Borgwardt, which showed him alive and well but said they couldn’t persuade him to return home.
How did authorities uncover Borgwardt’s plan?
A digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt’s laptop revealed he cleared his browsers on the day of his disappearance, replaced the hard drive, inquired about moving funds to foreign banks and had constant communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.
At the Nov. 21 press conference, Podoll relayed how Borgwardt said he faked his death.
Borgwardt’s plan, according to Podoll, included the following:
- Stashing an eBike near the boat launch.
- Paddling a kayak and a child-size inflatable boat out into the lake.
- Overturning the kayak and dumping his phone in the lake.
- Paddling the inflatable boat to shore and then riding the eBike through the night to Madison.
- Boarding a bus in Madison, going to Detroit and then heading to the Canadian border.
- Continuing on bus to the airport and getting on a plane.
Here’s the latest on the missing Wisconsin kayaker case
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office will give a press conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday with the latest details on the case. You can view the press conference live at the above link.
Where is Green Lake, Wisconsin?
Green Lake is a natural inland lake about 100 miles, or a 90-minute drive, northwest of Milwaukee.