NATIONAL NEWS

Wisconsin kayaker accused of faking his own drowning is alive in Europe, officials say

Nov 22, 2024, 3:46 PM

This still image provided by Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mark Podoll holds a news c...

This still image provided by Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Mark Podoll holds a news conference regarding Ryan Borgwardt, who faked his own drowning this summer on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 in Green Lake, Wis. (Green Lake County Sheriff's Office via AP)

(Green Lake County Sheriff's Office via AP)

(CNN)Ryan Borgwardt, a Wisconsin kayaker accused of faking his own drowning and fleeing the country, is alive somewhere in Eastern Europe and has been talking to investigators, officials said. But it’s still unclear whether he will ever return home to his wife and three children.

“Great news: We know that he’s alive and well,” Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said in a news conference Thursday. “The bad news is, we do not know where, exactly, Ryan is and he has not yet decided to return home.”

The 44-year-old was reported missing on August 12 after failing to come back from a fishing trip on Green Lake, about an hour north of his home in Watertown, Wisconsin. A massive seven-week effort to scour the bottom of the lake turned up no sign of Borgwardt, and officials began uncovering evidence he had fled to Europe via Canada.

Investigators finally made contact with Borgwardt on November 11 and have been communicating with him almost daily, Podoll said. He has still not spoken to his family.

In a video sent to officials last week, Borgwardt appeared in a nondescript room and said, “I am in my apartment. I am safe, secure, no problem.”

Borgwardt told investigators he executed his plan by stashing an electric bike near the lake’s boat launch, then paddling onto the water with a kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat, Podoll said. He then overturned his kayak, tossed his phone into the lake and paddled back to shore in the inflatable boat, the sheriff recounted.

Once ashore, Borgwardt said he rode the bicycle through the night about 80 miles to Madison, where he boarded a bus to Detroit, Podoll said. Borgwardt eventually crossed the Canadian border and boarded a flight to Europe, he added, noting investigators are still trying to verify the story.

Before his disappearance, Borgwardt had transferred funds to a foreign bank account, changed his email and communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan, according to Podoll.

Investigators were ultimately able to contact Borgwardt through a Russian-speaking woman, Podoll said, though he declined to say whether she was the woman he had been communicating with in Uzbekistan or whether he is currently with her.

In January, Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy, which Podoll said was intended to help his family.

Investigators have still not shared what may have motivated the father to abandon his family and everything he knew. Podoll said he did it for “a number of reasons.”

“In our communications, we are expressing the importance of his decision to return home and clean up the mess that he has created,” Podoll said. He added Borgwardt has expressed regret for how he has hurt his family and “also feels bad about the amount of hours that we have put in the community.”

The massive search for Borgwardt was a costly and emotionally taxing endeavor for both his family and search crews, the sheriff said, and authorities are intent on holding him accountable for the toll his actions have caused.

The sheriff’s office is preparing to charge Borgwardt with obstruction of justice, though the charges have yet to be filed, Podoll said. The county will also be seeking up to $40,000 of “restitution” to compensate for the search, including equipment and wages, he said.

Borgwardt told investigators that he thought they would stop searching for him after about two weeks, officials said. He chose Green Lake, in part, because it is the deepest natural lake in Wisconsin.

“He picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department,” Podoll said.

Borgwardt’s family is “very emotional” after whiplashing between mourning him and coming to terms with the idea that he may have abandoned them, the sheriff said on “CNN News Central” Friday afternoon.

“He expressed concerns that if he does come back, it’s going to be hard to live (and that) no one will accept him. But the community has stated before that they’re willing to forgive,” Podoll said.

The family has told authorities they want Borgwardt to return home, and officials have been begging him to come back to US soil, an emotional Podoll said Thursday.

“Christmas is coming, and what better gift he could give his kids to be there for Christmas with them,” the sheriff said, his voice breaking.

The search for Borgwardt

On the morning of August 12, Borgwardt’s capsized kayak was found in the lake and his vehicle, along with a trailer, was found at a nearby park, Podoll said.

The following day, two fishermen casting along the lake found a fishing rod that belonged to Borgwardt, his wife told officials. A tackle box was found later that day with several of Borgwardt’s belongings: a set of keys, a wallet and his license.

Podoll said his team discovered months later that Canadian officials “ran” Borgwardt’s passport on the same day he crossed into Canada, and officials have reason to believe he used a new passport.

The discovery that Borgwardt might have left the country prompted investigators to search his computer, according to Podoll.

Through a digital forensic analysis, investigators found that Borgwardt replaced the hard drive on his laptop and cleared his browser history on the day of his disappearance, Podoll said.

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations are assisting investigators, the sheriff said.

Though the county will seek restitution for the taxpayer-funded search efforts, that does not include the thousands of dollars spent by the nonprofit Bruce’s Legacy, which helped in the dive search.

Keith Cormican, director of Bruce’s Legacy, told CNN he spent nearly 30 days working on the case. The first two weeks of the search alone will cost him about $10,000 due to damaged equipment and other expenses, he said.

“My success rate is pretty good,” Cormican told CNN. “To not be able to find him … really had me questioning my abilities. And I lost a lot of sleep over it.”

CNN’s Amanda Musa contributed to this report.


The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

National News

US Navy recovery teams lift the back wing section of American Airlines Flight 5342 from the Potomac...

Andy Rose, CNN

Latest radar evidence suggests Black Hawk in DC disaster was flying too high, but NTSB wants more proof

Newly released data from ground-based radar came out Tuesday suggesting an Army helicopter was flying higher than it was supposed to be when it collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 a week ago, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

12 hours ago

The Olympic rings at the Utah Olympic Park...

Will Graves National Writer, AP

Trump administration plans to pressure the IOC for a uniform transgender athlete ban

President Donald Trump is ready to take his fight against transgender athletes to the International Olympic Committee.

14 hours ago

Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general...

Alanna Durkin Richer and Stephen Groves, Associated Press

Senate confirms Pam Bondi as US attorney general, putting Trump ally at Justice Department’s helm

The Senate has confirmed Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general.

22 hours ago

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take questions during a news c...

Michael Kunzelman and Mike Catalini, Associated Press

Trump’s birthright citizenship order is put on hold by a second federal judge

A federal judge in Maryland has ordered a second nationwide pause on President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for anyone born in the U.S. to someone in the country illegally.

23 hours ago

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take questions during a news c...

Will Graves, AP National Writer

Trump signs executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designed to prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls' or women’s sports.

1 day ago

FILE - Solar panels system funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are...

Associated Press

USAID direct hires put on leave worldwide, except those deemed essential

The Trump administration is placing USAID direct-hire staffers around the world on leave, except those deemed essential.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Wisconsin kayaker accused of faking his own drowning is alive in Europe, officials say