A Wisconsin man has been convicted for faking his own drowning while kayaking, leading to a dramatic series of events that left his wife and three children behind. On Tuesday, Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was sentenced to 89 days in jail after misleading law enforcement about his whereabouts. This sentence reflects the total number of days he successfully evaded authorities during his elaborate escape plan, which took place last August.
Borgwardt initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of obstructing an officer, but he later changed his plea to no contest under a plea deal with prosecutors. This plea does not equate to an admission of guilt, but it is treated as such for sentencing purposes. In addition to his jail time, Borgwardt was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to cover the costs incurred by law enforcement in their search efforts.
In court, Borgwardt expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I deeply regret the actions I did that night and all the pain I caused my family, friends.” Despite the plea deal recommending a 45-day jail sentence, Green Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Slate decided on a harsher punishment, citing the need for a deterrent against similar future offenses. “He obstructed law enforcement for a total of 89 days,” the judge remarked.
Borgwardt was reported missing on August 12, 2024, after he informed his wife that he was going kayaking on Green Lake, located approximately 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Initially, authorities treated his disappearance as a potential drowning. However, after an exhaustive 58-day search yielded no results, the investigation expanded. Investigators uncovered clues suggesting that Borgwardt had planned to fake his death to meet a woman from Uzbekistan.
After being contacted by investigators in November, Borgwardt eventually returned to the United States in December, where he was charged with obstructing the search for his body. His actions led to the end of his marriage; his wife filed for divorce just four months after his return.
According to the criminal complaint, Borgwardt traveled 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake on August 11, 2024. He executed his plan by capsizing his kayak and using an inflatable raft to paddle back to shore, where he disposed of his identification in the lake. Subsequently, he rode an electric bicycle 70 miles to Madison, from where he took a bus to Toronto. His journey continued with a flight to Paris and then to a country in Asia, eventually landing in the European country of Georgia.
In Georgia, Borgwardt claimed he was picked up by a woman he met online, and they spent several days in a hotel before he decided to reside in the country. Green Lake County District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa emphasized the premeditated nature of Borgwardt's actions, noting that he had taken out a life insurance policy, applied for a replacement passport, and even reversed a vasectomy in anticipation of starting a new life.
In sentencing Borgwardt, Judge Slate underscored the determination of law enforcement in bringing him back to face the consequences of his actions. Meanwhile, Borgwardt's attorney, Erik Johnson, mentioned that his client “deeply regrets” his decisions and returned to the U.S. to take responsibility. He had already paid the required restitution of $30,000 to the authorities.
