Wisconsin Man Who Faked His Death, Fled to Europe, Charged With Misdemeanor

A Wisconsin man who faked his own death and left his wife and four children behind to be with a woman in eastern Europe is now back in the United States and in jail.

Ryan Borgwardt was returned to the United States on Tuesday and charged with a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge after prompting an extensive search as he fled the country, NPR reported.

Borgwardt was given a $500 bond ordered to return to court in January.

Borgwardt returned to the United States on his own and turned himself in. The Green Lake County Sheriff provided absolutely no information in a press conference. He declined to answer virtually every question asked.

“He got on an airplane and landed in the United States,” Sheriff Mark Podoll said when asked how he was returned from Europe.

The sheriff said his office provided “a number” of recommendations for charges to the district attorney’s office. It’s not clear if any other charges will be forthcoming.

Borwardt’s “disappearance” sparked a lengthy search of Green Lake, where he had gone fishing in his kayak in August. When he didn’t return, his family reported him missing, and authorities sent out underwater drones, submersible sonar, and K9 cadaver teams trying to find him.

The search lasted for 54 days before investigators learned that Borgwardt had stashed an eBike near the boat launch, dumped his kayak and fishing gear and paddled off the lake in a child’s inflatable boat, road the bike to Madison where he boarded a bus, and fled to Canada.

Once in Canada, he hopped a plane to Europe.

On November 21, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office detailed the plot and said they’d spoken with Borgwardt via a woman who spoke Russian and that he’d provided a “proof of life” video showing “his apartment” in Europe.

According to The Associated Press, Borgwardt was booked into the Green Lake County jail on Tuesday.

The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office plans a press conference later Wednesday morning, according to the Fond du Lac Reporter.

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[Featured image: Ryan Borgwardt/Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office]