News reports or official statements from authorities

Ryan Borgwardt, Wisconsin Husband and Father, Fakes Death and Flees to Eastern Europe

Nov 21, 2024, 09:40 PM

Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old husband and father of three from Green Lake County, Wisconsin, who was reported missing on August 12, 2024, after failing to return from kayaking on Big Green Lake, has been confirmed to be alive and well in Eastern Europe. Authorities revealed that Borgwardt had faked his own death and planned his disappearance. He has been in regular contact with the police since November 11, 2024, providing them with details on how he staged his disappearance. Borgwardt left the U.S. by catching a bus to the Canadian border and then fled to Eastern Europe. Despite his communications, he has not committed to returning home. Borgwardt's actions were motivated by personal matters, and he has expressed that he thought it was the right thing to do. He has been communicating daily with authorities from Eastern Europe, even sending a video to confirm his safety. The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office held a press conference to provide updates on the case, stating that Borgwardt is safe but his exact location remains unknown.