Father Faked His Own Death in a Water Body: What the Investigation Revealed.

Man Tried to Fabricate His Own Death to Escape to His Mistress

According to The Sun: 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt from Wisconsin was sentenced in court for attempting to fraudulently claim that he died during kayaking. The court convicted him on Tuesday for this clever plan, which he executed last summer.

Photo of Ryan Borgwardt in court.

Judge Mark Slate sentenced Borgwardt to 89 days in Green Lake County jail, corresponding to the number of days between his disappearance and when he contacted the sheriff.

“I deeply regret my actions that night and the pain I caused my family and friends,”

– Borgwardt said during the court hearing.

Attorney Geris LaSpiza called Borgwardt's plan “selfish.” She noted that he hoped the depth of Green Lake would keep him safe from detection:

“According to the defendant, his death-faking plan was based on the idea that he would drown in the lake and 'sell' his death to the world. His words.”

The judge also ordered Borgwardt to pay $30,000 to cover the search expenses that began after his disappearance on August 11, 2024.

Only in October, 54 days after the search began, did police learn the truth: Borgwardt crossed the border into Canada a few days after disappearing.

Family photo of Ryan Borgwardt with his wife and three children.

Authorities also reported that he had been in contact with a Russian-speaking woman even before obtaining a new passport and taking out a life insurance policy for $375,000 in January.

Law enforcement discovered that he had stolen his kayak – throwing his phone and personal items into the water – and then reached the shore on an inflatable boat. He then presumably rode an electric bike over 50 miles to Madison.

“I’m safe, I’m okay, I have no problems,”

– he said in a video he sent to the police in November.

The family had no contact with him since his disappearance. The sheriff’s office supported the family, who were going through a tough time.

Sheriff Mark Podol explained that Borgwardt chose Green Lake because he knew it was the deepest in the state.

Borgwardt tried to cover his tracks by leaving his original passport at home, deleting his laptop's hard drive, and destroying his search history, police noted.

“I couldn’t be more proud,”

– added Sheriff Podol after Borgwardt was held accountable thanks to the diligent work of the police.

Photo of Ryan Borgwardt The situation with Ryan Borgwardt highlights not only the personal dramas that can lead to such extremes but also the importance of law enforcement in investigating such cases. Authorities are tasked with protecting society, and similar incidents pose a serious challenge for law enforcement. It is vital for communities to be aware of the consequences of such actions not only for themselves but for their loved ones.