Ryan Borgwardt sent a video of himself to authorities on November 11.
GREEN LAKE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office says it’s trying to get Ryan Borgwardt to come home after he faked his death and traveled to Europe.
Borgwardt, 45, was reported missing in August after a kayaking trip on Green Lake.
After weeks of searching, sheriff’s officials made the shocking announcement that they believe Borgwardt faked his death and traveled to Europe.
During Thursday’s news conference, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said, “it didn’t go the way he had planned.”
On Nov. 11, authorities were able to make contact with Borgwardt. Borgwardt then sent investigators a video of himself to prove he was safe and wasn’t being held against his will.
Sheriff Podoll says they still do not know exactly where Borgwardt is but just that he is somewhere in eastern Europe.
The sheriff’s office have been in contact with Borgwardt through email and are encouraging him to come home and “make things right.”
Green Lake County is seeking restitution of $35,000 to $40,000. Sheriff Podoll says an obstruction charge is also coming.
Borgwardt could potentially be facing other federal charges as well.
In their communications with Borgwardt, he told investigators how he disappeared.
Sheriff Podoll says Borgwardt stashed an e-bike near the boat launch and paddled his kayak in tandem with a child size inflatable boat out on Green Lake. He overturned the kayak and dumped his phone in the lake and got on the inflatable and paddled to shore. Borgwardt told investigators he chose Green Lake because it’s the deepest lake in the state.
Once on shore, he got on his e-bike and rode through the night to Madison. He got on a bus in Madison to Detroit and then to the Canadian border where he got on another bus to the airport and flew to Europe.
Sheriff Podoll did not cite specifically why Borgwardt decided to fake his own death but said it was for multiple reasons.
Sheriff Podoll says in their communications with Borgwardt, he does express remorse for wasting the county’s resources and time in searching for him. Borgwardt told the sheriff’s office he didn’t expect authorities to search for him more than two weeks.
Since he left the U.S., Sheriff Podoll says Borgwardt has not made contact with his wife and children or other family members and friends.
The department says they will continue to keep in contact with Borgwardt to convince him to come home. Sheriff Podoll says at this time, he does not feel a warrant is necessary if Borgwardt decides to return home.
“Christmas is coming and what better gift he could give his kids is to be there for Christmas with them,” Sheriff Podoll said.
Last week, sheriff’s officials debunked rumors that Borgwardt was interviewed in a TikTok video taken in California in June.
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