The Disturbing Disappearance: Wisconsin Man Fakes Death to Escape Troubles

Sun Mar 29 2026 12:17:11 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A man from Wisconsin has made headlines after faking his own death during a solo fishing trip, sparking an extensive search and raising questions about his motivations.

Ryan Borgwardt's disappearance during a fishing trip led authorities to believe he had drowned. Eventually, he surfaced in a video, revealing he had orchestrated his escape. His actions left his family in distress, and police are pursuing answers as he remains abroad.

A troubling case has unfolded in Wisconsin as Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old man, orchestrated a faked death while on a solo fishing trip, leaving his family and law enforcement grappling with the aftermath. The saga began on August 12 when Borgwardt disappeared without a trace, prompting the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office to spend 54 days searching for what they presumed to be a drowning victim.

Emerging intelligence led investigators to suspect that Borgwardt had fled. They later made contact with him after he sent a 24-second video to authorities confirming he was alive and safe, which he filmed from what appeared to be an apartment. "Good evening, it’s Ryan Borgwardt," he stated. "I am safe, secure, no problem."

Sheriff Mark Podoll disclosed that the investigation was reignited when they connected with a Russian-speaking woman who aided law enforcement in reaching Borgwardt, who is believed to have fled to an undisclosed European location. While the video provided some relief that he was alive, questions remained as to why he chose this drastic route.

Reports reveal the depths of his planning prior to vanishing. In a calculated act, he sank his kayak and mobile phone in the lake as a cover-up. From there, he executed a plan that included cycling to Madison and boarding a bus to Detroit before taking a flight from Canada. Borgwardt reportedly neglected to inform his family of his whereabouts and left behind three children and his wife.

Compounding the situation, authorities discovered he had taken out a substantial life insurance policy, transferred funds overseas, and was in contact with a woman in Uzbekistan around the time of his disappearance. Sheriff Podoll expressed concern for the mental and emotional toll this situation has had on Borgwardt’s children, especially with the holiday season approaching.

"We’re trying to pull at his heartstrings," Podoll stated, hoping that the family-oriented sentiment of the holidays might compel him to return. The authorities are currently analyzing the details of Borgwardt's escape plan while considering potential charges related to the costs incurred during the extensive search and deception of law enforcement.

As the situation continues to unfold and law enforcement attempts to piece together the motivations behind this elaborate ruse, the stark reality remains that a family is left heartbroken.