A Wisconsin man is believed to have faked his own drowning this summer in an elaborate effort to abandon his family and escape to Eastern Europe, according to investigators.
Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll revealed in a news release that the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office notified his agency on August 12 that Ryan Borgwardt of Watertown was missing after going kayaking on Green Lake. Borgwardt’s wife received a text from him at 10:49 p.m. on August 11 stating he was heading to shore.
Deputies discovered Borgwardt’s vehicle and trailer near the lake and found his overturned kayak with a life jacket attached in an area where the waters are more than 200 feet deep. An angler later found Borgwardt’s fishing rod.
Initially, investigators speculated that Borgwardt’s kayak had capsized and that he had drowned without a life jacket. The search for his body continued for over 50 days, involving divers who explored several parts of the lake.
Bruce’s Legacy, a nonprofit organization specializing in the recovery of drowning victims, searched approximately 1,500 acres of the lake, often in waters over 100 feet deep, reviewing hours of sonar data to no avail.
In early October, Podoll’s department was notified that Canadian law enforcement had checked Borgwardt’s name in their databases the day after he was reported missing. The release did not specify why they had done so or provide further context.
Further investigation uncovered that Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and obtained a new one in May. His family found the original passport with ease, the sheriff noted.
A digital analysis of a laptop revealed that Borgwardt had meticulously planned his escape to Europe. The hard drive had been replaced and browsers cleared on the day of his disappearance. Investigators found passport photos, inquiries about transferring funds to foreign banks, and communication with a woman from Uzbekistan. They also discovered that Borgwardt had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January.
“At this time we believe that Ryan is alive and likely in Eastern Europe,” Podoll stated in the release.
Podoll added that his agency would continue collaborating with federal and international law enforcement to determine if Borgwardt committed any crimes and if anyone assisted him. He also intends to seek restitution for the search expenses.
Attempts to obtain additional details were unsuccessful, as Podoll did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press and efforts to contact Borgwardt’s family members by telephone were fruitless.
Keith Cormican, who runs Bruce’s Legacy in honor of his brother Bruce—a firefighter who drowned in 1995 while searching for a drowning victim—expressed frustration. He described the extensive search for Borgwardt as “disheartening,” adding that the resources and time spent could have benefited other families in need.
“You meet all kinds in the world and I guess this guy went to the extremes faking his disappearance, so it’s a first,” Cormican remarked. “He definitely cost us a lot of grief, a lot of money, repairs, and equipment. I just hope he comes forward sooner rather than later so the family can move on.”
Authorities recently extradited Nicholas Rossi, a fugitive from the U.S., from Scotland to Utah. Rossi is accused of two sexual assaults and allegedly faked his death to avoid charges. He was arrested in Scotland in 2021 after being recognized at a Glasgow hospital where he was receiving treatment for COVID-19.
