Ryan Borgwardt missing Green Lake: A kayaker who went missing in Green Lake County this summer is believed to be alive and may have fled the United States. According to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, new information suggests Ryan Borgwardt, 45, faked his death in Green Lake and is now living in Eastern Europe.
During a news conference in Green Lake on Friday, Sheriff Podoll presented additional evidence. New information was submitted to authorities, prompting the Sheriff’s Office to renew its investigation on October 7. According to the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Centre, Podoll’s office discovered on August 13 that Borgwardt’s name had been checked by Canadian law authorities. Deputies conducted further investigations and discovered that Borgwardt reported his passport as lost or stolen and had gotten a new passport on May 22, 2024. Podoll stated that Borgwardt’s original passport was easily found by his relatives.
Further evidence recovered included:
The replacement of the hard drive on the laptop, The clearing of browsers on the day of disappearance, Syncing the laptop with iCloud on August 11, Photos of passports, Inquiries about moving funds to foreign banks, Changed email addresses associated with financial accounts on the day of disappearance, Communication with a woman from Uzbekistan, A new $375,000 life insurance policy in January 2024, A purchased airline gift card, The Sheriff’s Office said its new goals for the case include:
Identify all crimes committed and any individuals who assisted with those crimes, and completely and thoroughly investigate all aspects of this case with the assistance of our state, federal, and international partners, Pursue restitution for the expenses of the search that have been funded by the taxpayers, Alert Borgwardt that his plan is being uncovered and that the best thing he can do is return home to his family and children
Borgwardt was reported missing in August because he did not return from the lake the night before. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a thorough search was initiated on August 12 after Borgwardt did not return home. The initial assumption was that Borgwardt capsized on the lake late during the night of August 11, possibly without a life jacket.
The Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Wisconsin DNR and Bruce’s Legacy, searched the lake area using a variety of instruments, including sonar and a drone.The Sheriff’s Office reports that on August 13, a fishing rod and a tacklebox were discovered. On August 24, 25, and 28, highly skilled teams undertook deep dives, as did cadaver K9 crews.
The Sheriff’s Office stated the search lasted 54 days. The FBI, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations, and Mid-States Organized Crime Information Centre have gathered digital evidence and are investigating the circumstances surrounding Borgwardt’s abduction.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office warned Friday that anyone who has deliberately or inadvertently helped Borgwardt in his efforts should come forward. Those with information should contact the Sheriff’s Office at (920) 294-4134, ext. 1162, and can remain anonymous. Those with information can also contact Green Lake County Crime Stoppers by texting “GETTHEM” to 847411. Any Tips resulting in arrests or convictions will be eligible for a prize. If you are unable to text, you can contact 1-800-GET-THEM.
