Ryan Borgwardt, a missing kayaker from Wisconsin, has been found alive and well by authorities after faking his death. Officials have been in contact with Borgwardt since November 11, when he confirmed he was alive through a video sent via email. Borgwardt staged his death by paddling a kayak and inflatable boat into a lake, dumping his phone, and fleeing to Madison, Detroit, and potentially to the Canadian border. He took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and has not contacted his family, believing his disappearance was in their best interest. Authorities are considering obstruction charges and seeking restitution for search efforts. Borgwardt has been in communication with a woman from Uzbekistan and authorities suspect he may have fled abroad, as the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Uzbekistan. Borgwardt’s disappearance sparked an extensive search involving drones and dive teams, but a digital forensic analysis of his laptop revealed several suspicious activities, such as replacing the hard drive, inquiring about moving funds to foreign banks, and purchasing a life insurance policy. Authorities are appealing to Borgwardt to return, but he has expressed concerns about how he would be received. The investigation into Borgwardt’s disappearance involved multiple law enforcement agencies and revealed a complex web of deceit leading to his staged death.
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Ryan Borgwardt Found: Missing Kayaker Makes Contact with Authorities
