A Wisconsin man who faked his personal demise, ditched his household and fled to Jap Europe has been telling the cops how he pulled off the weird stunt — however nonetheless gained’t say if he’s coming again.
Father-of-three Ryan Borgwardt vanished throughout a kayaking journey in August, leaving his forlorn household fearing the worst after he by no means got here residence from Inexperienced Lake, about an hour-and-a-half north of Madison.
However final week, Inexperienced Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll mentioned at a press convention that the 45-year-old fled to Jap Europe — and now Borgwardt has opened as much as police about how and why he faked his drowning demise.
Throughout the journey, Borgwardt overturned his kayak, chucked his cellphone into the water and paddled an inflatable boat to shore, based on WYFF in Wisconsin.
Then he rode an electrical bike 70 miles south to the state capitol, the place he boarded a bus for Detroit, then one other to Canada, earlier than hopping on a aircraft, the sheriff added.
Podoll — who mentioned Borgwardt has spoken to cops nearly every single day since Nov. 11 — even despatched authorities a video of himself from his new digs.
“I’m safe and secure, no problem,” Borgwardt mentioned within the cellphone video. “I hope this works.”
Cops are nonetheless verifying Borgwardt’s account however they mentioned they’re joyful he’s OK.
“The great news is we know that he is alive and well,” Podoll mentioned. “The bad news is we don’t know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not yet decided to return home.”
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He may very well be charged with against the law for obstructing the investigation into his disappearance ought to he return, the sheriff added. However there have been no fees filed but.
In the meantime, cops are “pulling at his heartstrings” to persuade him to return again to his household.
“Christmas is coming,” Podoll mentioned. “And what better gift could your kids get than to be there for Christmas?”
Authorities started their search after Borgwardt’s household reported him lacking on Aug. 12, and finally discovered the overturned kayak, his lifejacket and his automobile.
Investigators initially thought he’d drowned within the lake, which might attain depths of 200 toes, the community mentioned.
However because the case wore on, the sheriff’s workplace started scouring his pc — which not solely put them on his path, however confirmed that he’d been speaking to a girl from the previous Soviet republic of Uzbekistan.
Podoll wouldn’t say what he knew concerning the lady. However he did say cops contacted Borgwardt by a “female that spoke Russian.”
Borgwardt had additionally taken out a $375,000 life insurance coverage coverage in January for his household, the sheriff mentioned.
The vanished expat has an condominium, wherever he’s. However authorities aren’t positive how he’s managing to assist himself.
