For several weeks, the family of passionate kayaker Ryan Borgwardt feared the worst, expecting that search divers would soon recover his body from a Wisconsin lake.
On August 12, the day he disappeared, Borgwardt’s kayak, fishing rod, wallet, and car keys were found abandoned at Green Lake, leading authorities and his loved ones to believe he had tragically drowned. To further deepen the belief that he had met a fatal end, a lifejacket was found floating on the water, signaling to his wife and three children that they had likely lost their husband and father.
“We don’t know where he is, but he is not in our lake,” the Green Lake county sheriff, Mark Podoll, told a media briefing, as NBC News reported on Monday.
“It’s really hard, because they felt that the dad drowned a day ago. They found out that he wasn’t.”
Podoll explained that the first sign something was amiss emerged in early October when his detectives found that the name of 44-year-old Ryan Borgwardt, a resident of Watertown, Wisconsin, had been flagged by Canadian authorities the day after his disappearance. This discovery raised suspicions and prompted a deeper investigation into Borgwardt’s activities.
In the weeks that followed, investigators focused on examining his personal affairs, including a thorough forensic analysis of his laptop’s hard drive. The analysis uncovered additional evidence that suggested Borgwardt had meticulously planned his disappearance, further solidifying the theory that his death was staged. This careful preparation indicated that his vanishing was not an accident but a deliberate effort to fake his own death and disappear.
Investigators uncovered several unexpected details that painted a clearer picture of Ryan Borgwardt’s elaborate scheme to vanish. Among the findings was the fact that, shortly after obtaining a $375,000 life insurance policy in January, Borgwardt had also secured a second passport—an unusual step for someone leading an ordinary life in Wisconsin. Detectives also discovered he had tried to transfer funds into an overseas bank account, further suggesting he was preparing for a life far from home.
In a final step to cover his digital tracks, Borgwardt meticulously cleared his internet browser history just one day before setting out on the fateful fishing trip where he left behind his kayak and belongings. Investigators also learned that he had recently created a new email address, which he used to communicate online with a woman in Uzbekistan. This connection hinted at a possible destination and motivation for his sudden disappearance, revealing the extent of Borgwardt’s plans to stage his own death and begin a new life abroad.
“Due to these discoveries of the new evidence, we were sure that Ryan was not in our lake,” Podoll said, adding that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security were assisting in efforts to locate Borgwardt, and anyone who might have helped him.
He added: “Our goal is to identify any crimes that have been committed by any individuals who assisted with this crime.”
Following Ryan Borgwardt’s disappearance, volunteers rallied alongside law enforcement in an extensive search effort that spanned weeks. Together, they scoured the lake from the air, deploying drones to scan the water’s surface and surrounding areas for any signs of his whereabouts. Meanwhile, divers took on the challenging task of investigating the lake’s depths, plunging as far as 237 feet below the surface in hopes of uncovering clues. The collaborative effort reflected the community’s determination to find Borgwardt, as friends, family, and authorities held on to the belief that he might be recovered.
Keith Cormican, who leads Bruce’s Legacy—a non-profit organization dedicated to water search and recovery missions—explained that he personally spent nearly four weeks assisting in the search for Ryan Borgwardt. His involvement was spread out over a two-month period, during which he and his team conducted thorough and methodical operations on the lake. Bruce’s Legacy brought their expertise and specialized equipment to aid in the search, demonstrating their commitment to helping the community in its efforts to locate Borgwardt.
According to a report by the Washington Post, during a recent news conference, Podoll revealed that Borgwardt’s children were shocked to learn of their father’s alleged actions. Borgwardt’s family includes two sons, both in high school, and a younger daughter in elementary school.
The revelation that their father may have staged his own death was entirely unexpected for them. In contrast, Podoll noted that Borgwardt’s wife had been aware for some time of the possibility that her husband had faked his death. She had been cooperating with law enforcement throughout the investigation, assisting authorities as they uncovered the details behind his disappearance.
The sheriff remarked: “I put a lot on her shoulders. That is one strong lady. Ryan, if you are viewing this, I plead that you contact us or contact your family. We understand that things can happen, but there’s a family that wants their daddy back.”
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