MADISON, Wis. — A man from Wisconsin allegedly staged his own drowning earlier this summer in a bid to leave his family behind and travel to Eastern Europe, according to law enforcement officials.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podell announced on Friday that the investigation began when the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office notified them on August 12 that Ryan Borgwardt from Watertown had gone missing during a kayaking trip on Green Lake. Borgwardt’s wife stated he sent her a message at 10:49 p.m. on August 11, indicating he was returning to shore.

Authorities located Borgwardt’s vehicle and trailer close to the lake, along with his overturned kayak, which had a life jacket associated with it. This was discovered in a part of the lake known for its deep waters, exceeding 200 feet (60 meters). A fisherman later found Borgwardt’s fishing rod in the vicinity.

Initially, investigators suspected that Borgwardt had fallen from his kayak and was lacking a life jacket. The search for his body persisted for over 50 days, with divers frequently combing through the lake.

Bruce’s Legacy, a nonprofit dedicated to recovering drowning victims, covered an area of around 1,500 acres (6 square kilometers), often searching depths over 100 feet (30 meters), but could not find any trace of him after examining hours of sonar imagery and data.

In early October, Sheriff Podell’s department was alerted that Canadian law enforcement had searched their databases for Borgwardt the day after his disappearance. The release did not clarify the reason for this inquiry or provide additional details regarding the situation.

A deeper investigation uncovered that Borgwardt had claimed his passport was lost or stolen and secured a replacement in May. However, his original passport was found by his family, as noted by the sheriff.

An examination of a laptop—whose ownership was not disclosed—uncovered a digital roadmap suggesting Borgwardt had orchestrated his escape and attempted to confuse investigators. Authorities reported that the laptop’s hard drive had been replaced and browser data cleared on the same day Borgwardt went missing. Additionally, passport photos, information on transferring funds to overseas accounts, and communications with a woman from Uzbekistan were all discovered. It was also revealed that Borgwardt had secured a life insurance policy worth $375,000 in January 2024.

Sheriff Podell expressed belief that Ryan is alive and likely residing in Eastern Europe. He stated that his office will collaborate with federal and international bodies to investigate whether Borgwardt has committed any illegal acts and if he had any accomplices. Furthermore, the sheriff intends to pursue reimbursement for the expenses incurred during the search efforts.

Keith Cormican, who heads Bruce’s Legacy, honored his brother, a firefighter who drowned while trying to save a drowning victim in 1995. He described the search for Borgwardt as “disheartening,” emphasizing that the resources devoted to finding Borgwardt could have been utilized to assist other families in distress.

Cormican spoke on the extreme methods Borgwardt used to fake his disappearance, stating, “You meet all kinds in the world, and I guess this guy went to the extremes faking his disappearance, so it’s a first. He definitely cost us a lot of grief, a lot of money, repairs, and equipment. I just hope he comes forward sooner rather than later so the family can move on.”