Wisconsin Dad Sentenced to 89 Days for Faking Death
Mugshot of Ryan Borgwardt. Photo courtesy of Green Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Imagine vanishing without a trace, leaving your family and community in anguish, only to resurface months later in a faraway land with a new life and a new love. That's exactly what Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old father of three from Wisconsin, did when he staged his own death during a kayaking trip in August 2024. After 89 days of frantic searches and heartache, authorities uncovered his elaborate deception. In late August 2025, Borgwardt was sentenced to 89 days in jail — a sentence mirroring the exact number of days he misled law enforcement and his grieving family.
The Disappearance That Shook a Community
On August 11, 2024, Ryan Borgwardt set out on what appeared to be a routine kayaking trip on Green Lake, Wisconsin. The next day, when he failed to return, his wife and three children were plunged into despair. Authorities launched an extensive search, scouring the lake and surrounding areas for any sign of him. His phone, identification, and an overturned kayak were found, painting a grim picture of a tragic drowning.
For nearly two months, the community held onto hope while rescue teams combed the lake and nearby areas. But as days turned into weeks, the search expanded beyond the water. Investigators began to suspect that something was amiss when no body was found despite a thorough 58-day search.
The Calculated Deception
What made Borgwardt's disappearance so chilling was the meticulous planning behind it. Prosecutors revealed that months before vanishing, Borgwardt had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy, possibly to provide for his family in his absence. He also applied for a replacement passport and even reversed a vasectomy, all moves that suggested a long-term plan to start anew.
On the night of his disappearance, Borgwardt executed a carefully crafted ruse. He paddled his kayak and a child-sized inflatable boat out onto Green Lake, then overturned the kayak to simulate an accident. He paddled the inflatable boat back to shore, discarded his identification in the lake, and then rode an electric bike through the night to Madison, Wisconsin. From there, he took a bus to Toronto, Canada, and eventually flew to Europe, landing in the country of Georgia.
His destination was no accident. Borgwardt had been communicating online with a woman from Uzbekistan, whom he intended to meet and start a new life with. This digital trail was a key clue that led investigators to unravel his scheme.
The Emotional Fallout
While Borgwardt was building a new life thousands of miles away, his wife of 22 years and their three children were left to grieve a loss that wasn't real. The emotional toll on his family was profound. His wife eventually filed for divorce four months after his disappearance, a painful end to a long marriage shattered by betrayal.
The community's trust was also deeply shaken. What began as a hopeful search for a missing father turned into a story of deception and heartbreak. The authorities, too, were misled, spending significant resources and time on a search that was based on a lie.
The Return and Legal Consequences
In November 2024, after 89 days of being missing, law enforcement made contact with Borgwardt. A Russian-speaking woman helped facilitate communication, convincing him to reach out to his family and authorities. He was found safe and well in Georgia and voluntarily returned to the United States in December.
Despite the misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer, Borgwardt's attorney noted that he could have chosen to remain abroad, as the charge did not qualify for extradition. Instead, he came back to face the consequences and make amends.
At his sentencing in late August 2025, Borgwardt pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to cover the costs incurred by law enforcement during the search. The judge imposed an 89-day jail sentence — exactly matching the number of days Borgwardt had successfully misled authorities. This sentence was nearly twice as long as the 45 days recommended by prosecutors, serving as a stern warning to anyone considering similar deception.
References: Wisconsin Dad Who Faked His Death and Fled to Europe Sentenced to Jail | Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death to meet up with a woman overseas gets jail | US kayaker who faked death to flee family sentenced to jail
