Lacking Wisconsin father of three faked his disappearance and fled the nation: officers

A Wisconsin father of three who vanished throughout a kayaking journey in August faked his disappearance and fled the nation, abandoning his grieving spouse and children who doubtless feared the worst, native authorities introduced Friday.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was reported lacking by his household on August 12 following a kayaking journey at Inexperienced Lake he by no means returned from and was initially believed to have drowned, the Inexperienced Lake County Sheriff‘s Workplace stated throughout a press convention on Friday afternoon.

The seek for Borgwardt at Inexperienced Lake lasted eight weeks with the area people pouring numerous hours and sources into the seek for lacking dad.

An overturned kayak and lifejacket that authorities consider belonged to the lacking father have been finally recovered. His automobile was additionally discovered close to Dodge Memorial Park.

However as native regulation enforcement and dive groups scoured the waters, Borgwardt fled to Europe, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

The sheriff’s workplace lastly acquired a lead when its investigators took a brand new method in early October and started scouring pc recordsdata and even worldwide partnerships to seek out any crumbs Borgwardt might have left behind.

Of their search, officers discovered that the lacking father’s identify had been checked by regulation enforcement in Canada the day after he was reported lacking.

His laptop computer had probably the most proof, leaving a prolonged digital path for authorities to comply with.

Borgwardt had been speaking with a girl from Uzbekistan on-line, opened a complete new checking account, regarded into transferring funds to overseas banks, and wiped his pc — however the digital footprint remained.

The “lacking” father’s plot was elaborately deliberate. He had even acquired a brand new passport in late Could and left his unique one at his house earlier than his kayaking journey, the sheriff’s workplace stated.

It’s not instantly clear how lengthy Borgwardt was planning to flee his household for a brand new life overseas, however his digital path dated again a minimum of seven months to when he inexplicably bought a $375,000 life insurance coverage coverage in January, officers stated.

All search efforts for Borgwardt in Wisconsin have ended, however authorities consider that he has since fled to Europe and are pleading for him to return on behalf of his household.

“Ryan, if you’re viewing this, I plead that you simply contact us or contact your loved ones. We perceive that issues can occur, however there’s a household that wishes their daddy again,” Sheriff Mark Podoll stated in an emotional plea throughout the press convention.