Wisconsin man fakes his death and escapes to Eastern Europe

In Green Lake, Wisconsin, a man named Ryan Borgwardt faked his own drowning in August 2024, leaving behind his wife and three children. After his staged incident, during which he reportedly overturned his kayak and discarded his mobile phone, Borgwardt traveled to Madison and subsequently escaped to Canada and Eastern Europe by bus and plane. This dramatic departure from his family prompted a costly search operation, funded by local authorities, which searched for his body for over a month and incurred expenses over $35,000. After a three-month disappearance period, Borgwardt began communicating with law enforcement on November 11, 2024. Despite initial reluctance to return, it was reported that he was taken into custody on December 10, 2024, though details about the charges he may face remain unspecified. Authorities suggested the possibility of obstructing an investigation as a potential charge. A press conference was called to update the public later, indicating the ongoing concern and interest in the case surrounding Borgwardt's actions and the costs involved in the search efforts. With the complexity of this case, many questions linger about the motivations behind Borgwardt's drastic decisions and the impact on his family who were left to grapple with his actions.