Ryan Borgwardt missing: Wisconsin father who faked his own death in contact with Green Lake Co. authorities

Ryan Borgwardt, the husband and father of three who authorities say faked his own death at a Wisconsin lake and fled the country, is speaking to police but will not reveal his whereabouts, the local said sheriff.

As authorities tried to track down Borgwardt in recent weeks, they contacted a woman who speaks Russian, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference Thursday.

“On November 11, we got in touch with Ryan through her. That was a big turning point,” he said.

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When authorities reached Borgwardt, they asked him questions only he could know and asked him to film a video of himself, Podoll said.

In the selfie-like video, which was played at the press conference, Borgwardt appears to be in an apartment. He said the date was November 11 and he was safe.

Authorities believe he is in Eastern Europe, Podoll said, adding that he does not appear to be in danger.

“We don’t know where exactly Ryan is,” the sheriff said. “He has not yet decided to return home.”

“We have been in contact with Ryan almost daily,” the sheriff said.

Borgwardt has not spoken to his wife and children, Podoll said.

The mysterious case started on the night of August 11, when Borgwardt last texted his wife. He told her he was turning his kayak around on Green Lake and heading to shore soon, Podoll said.

The 45-year-old was reported missing the next day.

After Borgwardt’s overturned kayak and life jacket were discovered in the lake, emergency responders believed the missing father had drowned, officials said.

Crews have been searching the lake for weeks using divers, drones, sonar and cadaver K-9s, officials said.

The case took a turn in October when investigators discovered that Borgwardt’s name had been checked by law enforcement authorities in Canada on Aug. 13, the sheriff said.

Authorities also learned that Borgwardt had communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan, the sheriff said.

Other behavior included clearing his browsers the day he disappeared, asking about transferring money to foreign banks, getting a new life insurance policy, getting a new passport and replacing his laptop hard drive , the sheriff said.

Podoll said Borgwardt revealed to authorities how he faked his death at the lake and fled the country.

“He hid an e-bike at the boat dock. He paddled his kayak in a child-sized floating boat into the lake. He overturned the kayak and threw his phone into the lake,” the sheriff said. “He paddled the inflatable boat to shore and got on his e-bike and rode through the night to Madison, (Wisconsin). In Madison he boarded a bus and headed to Detroit and then to the Canadian border. He continued by bus to an airport and boarded a plane.”

“We continue to verify this information,” the sheriff added.

One of the reasons Borgwardt chose Green Lake is because it is one of the deepest lakes in the state, Podoll said.

Borgwardt told authorities he didn’t think responders would search for him for more than two weeks, the sheriff said.

“He feels bad about the amount of hours we put into it,” Podoll noted.

The family wants Borgwardt home, and Podoll said he wants Borgwardt back to “clean up the mess he made.”

The sheriff said authorities will “continue to pull at his heartstrings.”

“He needs to come home to his kids,” Podoll said.

The sheriff appeared emotional and ended the press conference by saying, “Christmas is coming, and what better gift can he give his children than to celebrate Christmas with them?”

Borgwardt could potentially face an obstruction charge, the sheriff said.

The county is seeking about $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution, the sheriff said.