Green Lake County, WI — Authorities in Wisconsin have revealed a startling twist in the case of Ryan Borgwardt, a father of three reported missing on August 12 after a kayaking trip on Green Lake. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident has been uncovered as an alleged attempt by Borgwardt to fake his death, leaving the country to meet a woman in Uzbekistan, according to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began after search crews found Borgwardt’s capsized kayak, along with his car, wallet, keys, fishing pole, and ID. However, suspicions arose when his name surfaced in a law enforcement database just a day after his reported disappearance. Subsequent inquiries revealed he had taken significant measures to erase his digital trail, including acquiring a second passport, replacing his laptop’s hard drive, clearing his browser history, and inquiring about transferring money to foreign banks. Records also showed he purchased airline gift cards and recently took out a $375,000 life insurance policy.
With no evidence suggesting he was in the lake, Sheriff Mark Podoll confirmed, “We don’t know where he is, but he is not in our lake.” The sheriff’s office later disclosed that Borgwardt had been in contact with a woman in Uzbekistan.
The case has left the Borgwardt family devastated. Keith Cormican, founder of Bruce’s Legacy, a nonprofit that spent 23 days assisting with the search, described the toll of the revelation. “It’s a little tough to swallow because it required a lot of expenses on this one,” Cormican said, noting that he was present when Borgwardt’s family learned of the new findings.
In light of the deception, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office intends to seek restitution for taxpayer-funded search expenses and pursue any applicable criminal charges against Borgwardt and any individuals who may have aided him. Sheriff Podoll has publicly urged Borgwardt to return home to his family, describing the case as “heart-wrenching” for those left behind.
