Borgwardt was reported missing on August 12, after he texted his wife that he was turning his kayak around and heading to shore. When his overturned kayak was discovered, it prompted a massive search effort involving divers and drones. However, new evidence suggested that Borgwardt had fled the country rather than drowned.
On November 11, Borgwardt sent a video to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirming he was safe but refusing to disclose his location. Sheriff Mark Podoll stated, “The great news is we know that he is alive and well. The bad news is we don’t know where Ryan exactly is.” In the video, Borgwardt appeared in an apartment, stating, “I am safe, secure, no problem.”
Investigators have pieced together how Borgwardt executed his plan. After capsizing his kayak and disposing of his phone in the lake, he paddled to shore in an inflatable boat, retrieved an E-bike he had hidden nearby, and cycled overnight to Madison. From there, he took a bus to Detroit and eventually boarded a flight from Canada to an undisclosed location in Eastern Europe.
Authorities are now considering charging Borgwardt with obstruction of justice for wasting resources in the search operation, which cost between $35,000 and $40,000. Sheriff Podoll expressed concern for Borgwardt’s family during this holiday season, stating, “Christmas is coming up… what better gift could he give those kids than to be there for Christmas?”