A Wisconsin father’s mysterious kayaking ‘disappearance’ was an elaborate escape plot, leaving behind family, heartache, and unanswered questions.
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GREEN LAKE COUNTY, WI
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Wisconsin
father of three, once thought to have drowned in a tragic accident, is now believed to have staged his own disappearance to start a new life abroad. The news came as a shock to his grieving family and a community that had rallied around them for nearly two months in hopes of bringing him home.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, vanished on August 12 after embarking on a kayaking trip at Green Lake, leaving his family and local authorities to assume the worst. The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that after Borgwardt’s overturned kayak and lifejacket were found, extensive searches were launched to find the missing father, who was initially thought to have drowned.
A Community Rallies to Find a Missing Father
For eight weeks, volunteers and local law enforcement poured their time and resources into combing the lake and surrounding areas. His car was found parked near Dodge Memorial Park, adding to the belief that a tragic accident had occurred. But the case took a shocking turn when evidence emerged suggesting that Borgwardt had, in fact, fled the country.
Digital Clues Expose Borgwardt’s Elaborate Escape Plan
In early October, authorities pivoted their search, diving into digital clues left behind on Borgwardt’s laptop and in law enforcement databases. The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Borgwardt’s name had been flagged by Canadian law enforcement the day after he was reported missing in Wisconsin, raising questions about his whereabouts.
Investigators soon found that he had been in communication with a woman from Uzbekistan, opened a new bank account, and was researching ways to move funds internationally. He had even attempted to wipe his computer clean, but digital traces of his plans remained.
Adding to the suspicions, Borgwardt had obtained a new passport in May, leaving his original at home—another indication that his disappearance was not what it seemed. Investigators uncovered a long trail of planning that stretched back at least seven months. One major red flag was a $375,000 life insurance policy he took out in January, signaling that his intentions may have been in motion for nearly a year.
Now, law enforcement has ended the search efforts around Green Lake, focusing instead on tracking Borgwardt overseas. They believe he has fled to Europe and hope he will return voluntarily.
A Desperate Plea for Borgwardt’s Return
During a press conference, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll addressed Borgwardt directly, saying, “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.”
As the investigation continues, the community that once rallied to find Borgwardt is left stunned, wondering how a beloved family man could turn his back on the life he built, leaving loved ones to piece together the fragments of his carefully orchestrated disappearance.
RELATED TOPICS:
Missing Person
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Wisconsin
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