Wisconsin father faked his own death, fled to Eastern Europe: cops

A Wisconsin begetter of 3 who disappeared implicit the summertime faked his ain decease and fled to Eastern Europe, according to authorities.

Ryan Borgwardt, 44, was last heard from connected Green Lake successful cardinal Wisconsin connected Aug. 11. Rescuers and instrumentality enforcement launched an extended hunt of the water and surrounding area, lasting astir 2 months, but couldn’t find Borgwardt.

Investigators changed their absorption successful aboriginal October and discovered Borgwardt’s sanction was searched by Canadian customs connected Aug. 13, the time aft helium supposedly drowned successful the lake.

“Wow. Yeah, that was thing we didn’t expect,” Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said Friday astatine a press conference.

Borgwardt had been communicating with a pistillate successful Uzbekistan, obtained a caller passport, learned however to determination wealth into overseas banks and replaced his laptop hard drive, according to police.

“Due to the find of this caller evidence, we are assured that Ryan is not located successful Green Lake, and we person ended each hunt efforts associated with Green Lake,” Podoll said. “At this time, we judge that Ryan is live and apt successful Eastern Europe.”

On Aug. 11, Borgwardt was kayaking connected Green Lake, astir 75 miles northwest of Milwaukee, and texted his woman that helium would beryllium heading location astir 10:45 p.m., constabulary said. But helium ne'er returned.

Searchers rapidly recovered his kayak, sportfishing pole, wallet, keys and driver’s licence but could not find Borgwardt’s body. Only aft learning that Canadian authorities had tally Borgwardt’s passport did investigators recognize helium was apt not successful the lake.

Last year, a Louisiana antheral tried and failed to fake his decease successful the aforesaid way. Melvin Emde’s lad claimed Emde drowned successful a kayaking accident, but Emde had really faked his decease portion trying to debar kid porn charges. He was captured successful Georgia 1 period later.