Court records or official announcements from Green Lake County authorities

Ryan Borgwardt, Who Faked Death, Returns to U.S., Faces 9-Month Sentence for Obstruction

Dec 11, 2024, 06:45 PM

Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old man from Wisconsin, who had allegedly faked his own death in a kayaking accident on Green Lake in August, has returned to the United States and is now in police custody. Borgwardt, who left behind his wife and three children, had fled to Eastern Europe, specifically the country of Georgia, before voluntarily returning to face charges. Authorities have charged him with obstructing an intense lake search for his body, which was staged as a phony tragedy. Borgwardt returned on his own accord, influenced by his family, and appeared in a Green Lake County court on Wednesday. He faces a possible 9-month sentence for the obstruction charge. The sheriff's office has recommended additional charges, and Borgwardt is currently being held at the county jail.