A man pretended to die in a kayaking accident to secretly leave his family and begin a new relationship with a woman he met online. Ryan Borgwardt vanished on August 11 while kayaking in Green Lake, Wisconsin, leaving behind his devastated wife and children. In reality, he had been plotting for months to abandon them and start a new life with a woman from Uzbekistan, according to prosecutors.
The police halted their search for Borgwardt in early October after Canadian authorities noticed activity on his passport on August 13. Before disappearing, Borgwardt texted his then-wife, Emily, suggesting he might have had an accident while watching the northern lights on the lake.
Emily expressed her surprise at not knowing his whereabouts, mentioning the numerous nights he was absent without explanation. Borgwardt reassured Emily of his love, bid her goodnight, and mentioned he would return to shore shortly. However, he did not respond to her messages later that night.
The Green Lake County Sheriff revealed that Borgwardt was alive and suspected to be in Eastern Europe. He willingly returned in December 2024 after orchestrating his disappearance by faking a kayak accident, moving money to a foreign bank, and purchasing a substantial insurance policy.
With the assistance of a Russian-speaking woman, likely the woman from Uzbekistan, authorities eventually located Borgwardt. He sent a video confirming his safety and detailing his elaborate escape plan, including overturning a kayak, fleeing on an inflatable raft, biking to another city, and flying overseas.
By May, Borgwardt’s wife had divorced him, and in August, he admitted to obstructing an officer and served an 89-day jail term, equivalent to the duration of his disappearance. He was also ordered to reimburse $30,000 for police expenses.
Expressing remorse, Borgwardt acknowledged the pain he caused his family and friends before his sentencing.
