A Wisconsin man, Ryan Borgwardt, faced justice this Tuesday after being convicted for obstructing an officer following an elaborate scheme where he faked his own drowning while kayaking. This deceitful act left his wife and three children in turmoil as he traveled to meet a woman in the country of Georgia. Borgwardt was sentenced to 89 days in jail, a sentence nearly double the length recommended under a plea deal with prosecutors.
Borgwardt, 45, initially pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor, which arose from his elaborate escape last August. However, during the plea deal revealed on Tuesday, he changed his plea to no contest. This type of plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such during sentencing. As part of the agreement, Borgwardt also committed to paying $30,000 in restitution to law enforcement for the expenses incurred while searching for him.
In court, Borgwardt expressed his remorse, stating, "I deeply regret the actions I did that night and all the pain I caused my family and friends." Despite prosecutors recommending a 45-day jail sentence, Green Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Slate decided on the longer sentence of 89 days, noting that this was the duration Borgwardt misled law enforcement about his whereabouts.
Borgwardt was reported missing on August 12, 2024, after informing his wife that he intended to kayak on Green Lake, located about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Upon investigation, authorities discovered Borgwardt's vehicle and trailer parked at the lake, along with a capsized kayak in deep waters. Initially, his disappearance was treated as a possible drowning; however, after a 58-day search failed to locate his body, the investigation took a new direction.
The turning point came when Canadian authorities checked Borgwardt's name shortly after his purported drowning. Green Lake Chief Deputy Matt Vandelkolk noted that this contact with law enforcement raised suspicions about Borgwardt's actual whereabouts. Further investigation revealed that Borgwardt had acquired a new passport just three months prior to his disappearance, leading investigators to believe he had faked his death to rendezvous with a woman from Uzbekistan he had met online.
Details from the criminal complaint revealed an intricate plan. Borgwardt traveled approximately 50 miles from his home in Watertown to Green Lake on August 11, 2024. He overturned his kayak, paddled back to shore in an inflatable raft, and discarded his identification in the lake. From there, he rode an electric bicycle for 70 miles to Madison, caught a bus to Toronto, and then flew to Paris before landing in Georgia.
Upon arrival in Georgia, Borgwardt claimed that a woman picked him up, and they spent several days together in a hotel before he established residency there. Green Lake County District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa described Borgwardt's actions as a selfish scheme aimed at devastating his family to fulfill his personal desires, underscoring the seriousness of his actions.
Borgwardt's actions not only led to his conviction but also resulted in a divorce from his wife of 22 years, just four months after his return to the United States. His attorney, Erik Johnson, stated that Borgwardt genuinely regrets his actions and is committed to making amends. He has already paid the restitution amount as part of his plea agreement.
This case serves as a cautionary tale about the severe consequences of deceit and the impact it can have on families and communities. The judge's decision to impose a lengthier sentence aims to deter others from considering similar actions in the future.
