Wisconsin authorities said Thursday they have successfully contacted a missing father of three who “staged his own death” in August and apparently fled the country, though his exact whereabouts remain unknown.
Ryan Borgwardt’s family reported him missing on August 12 when he did not come home, and Wisconsin officials and volunteers The 45-year-old searched for months after finding his overturned kayak in Green Lake that Monday.
On November 8, nearly three months after her disappearance, Greenlake County Sheriff Mark Podol announced that a digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt’s computer led authorities to determine that the missing father and husband were likely But “somewhere in Europe” are alive.
Now, Podol is sharing new information about how Borgwardt began her disappearance and where her missing persons case currently stands.
Missing father of 3 fakes death and fled ‘somewhere in Europe’: authorities
The sheriff said Borgwardt “took out a $300,000 life insurance policy in January and bought airline cards,” all of which led authorities to believe he was still alive somewhere — just not in the United States. (Facebook)
“He launched into his death, and unfortunately, one of the things he said is that he didn’t expect us to spend more than two weeks looking for him. Well, I’ve got you. Hate to say he picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department.”
“I hate to tell you that he chose the wrong sheriff and the wrong department.”
Earlier this month, sheriff’s department officials contacted a woman who speaks Russian and were able to connect her to Borgward, the sheriff announced during a press conference Thursday. Podol later added that the missing father and the Russian-speaking woman had apparently met on the Internet.
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“It was a big turning point,” Podol said of his contact with the woman.
After Borgward was contacted by the woman, the sheriff’s office asked him to send a video of himself to prove he was safe, as their main concern at that point was that Borgward was safe and not a threat. I am not.
Digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt’s computer helped authorities determine that the missing father and husband were likely alive “somewhere in Europe.” (Facebook)
Borgwardt complied, and Podol played his video loudly during Thursday’s press conference. In the video, Ryan can be heard silently saying his name, the date, the time, and saying that he is “safe.”
Podol said the sheriff’s office has been in “almost daily communication with Ryan” since.
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Borgwart has since explained to police that on Aug. 12, the day he disappeared, he parked an e-bike near Green Lake — one of Wisconsin’s deepest lakes — and his fishing rod. , paddled across the lake in a kayak with the phone. and a child-sized, inflatable boat. He threw his phone and fishing rod into the lake, got into a boat, flipped the kayak and paddled to shore, where he then boarded an e-bike at a bus station in Detroit. From Detroit he traveled to the Canadian border.
Authorities in Wisconsin believe Ryan Borgwart faked his death in August. (Bruce’s Legacy/Facebook)
Earlier this month, the sheriff indicated that Borgwardt may be headed to a European country, though he clarified Thursday that the 45-year-old’s exact whereabouts are unknown.
Podol said during a taped press conference on Nov. 8 that fishermen on Green Lake “brought a fishing rod” that authorities collected as evidence, and that Borgwardt’s wife gave the fishing rod to her husband. Identified as Fox 11.
“We think it was Ryan’s way of telling the whole country how he did it.”
“We’re continuing to verify that information, trying to put the dots together,” the sheriff explained Thursday. “We think it was Ryan’s way of telling the whole country how he did it. We’re showing the importance of his decision to come back home, clean up the mess he made. Do it.”
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determined by the authorities. Digital Forensic Analysis that prior to his disappearance, Borgwardt changed his laptop’s hard drive, cleared his browser history on the day he disappeared, took photos of his passport, transferred money to a foreign bank, his Changed email address and was in touch with him. A woman from Uzbekistan,” Podol said on Nov. 8, according to FOX 11.
The sheriff said the investigation into Borgwardt’s disappearance will continue and “will involve a lot more people.” (FOX 11)
Authorities had not issued a warrant for Borgwart’s arrest as of Thursday, and Podol expressed that they would not have to issue a warrant if Borgwart decides to “cooperate.”
The sheriff’s office also has not filed any criminal charges against Borgwardt, but local authorities are currently working with federal partners to determine how to proceed with possible charges if they are confirmed. is The FBI is also working on overseas communications.
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“He needs to come back home to his kids. If he chooses not to come back, it’s on his own accord, and I think the message is very clear,” Podol said.
Green Lake County will seek between $35,000 and $40,000 in reimbursements for resources needed for ongoing efforts to locate Borgwardt.
