WI WI - Ryan Borgwardt, 45, Green Lake, 11 Aug 2024 *evidence that he faked his death and is alive in Eastern Europe*

[priyaya]

Just getting into this case, but he couldn't have done this without some help in the US/Canada
a few question i have

do we know how much money he moved ahead of time? was he just transferring to the woman and not a bank? how would he be able to do that without some flags?
how would he get out of Canada and to Uzbekistan?
Also do we have an official timeline yet? Im interested to see how long he was planning this.

personally think he was catfished, although definitely narcissism got him there.
too much organization for an abroad romance

 

[flowershop]

Just getting into this case, but he couldn't have done this without some help in the US/Canada
a few question i have

do we know how much money he moved ahead of time? was he just transferring to the woman and not a bank? how would he be able to do that without some flags?
how would he get out of Canada and to Uzbekistan?
Also do we have an official timeline yet? Im interested to see how long he was planning this.

personally think he was catfished, although definitely narcissism got him there.
too much organization for an abroad romance

Good questions. I can't speak to the money issue but to go from Canada to Uzbekistan he would probably change flights in Europe, Turkey or UAE.

 

[nodamselindistress]

Just heard about this case - very interesting! Cannot wait to see how it all turns out.

 

[youngsleuther]

I read through the entire case, watched videos and read the thread.
I feel that somehow all this was decided way ahead of time on Ryan's side. It makes me wonder if the family knew about the woman and he took a life insurance strategically to help the family however was lucrated in by the woman's offer (she may not even be a woman) and went to follow the path as directed by her.
The family can't be blamed but if this is a financial scam then Ryan's life could be in danger. Here we are speculating if he faked his death whereas we don't know what actually might be happening out there in Europe/Canada.
(IMO)

 

[Mitch1]

Investigators: Missing kayaker presumed dead actually faked his own disappearance and fled to Europe

From the above link, "purchased an airline gift card".

From the link below, apparently one can buy a gift card for use on many different airlines.

I'm sure L.E. is tracing this card as I type this.

Create Your Custom Flight Gift Card | Flightgift

JMVHO.

Definitely can, my spouse gets them from his company (appreciation type thing) but you still have to go to the airline website and register it to use it (at least with Delta) and get an airline ticket

 

[Mitch1]

Wonder if they were able to identify the vehicle he came through the border in-surely they checked the cameras

 

[Mitch1]

Wonder why he got a new passport instead of using the one he had-did he want manipulate it or

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Wonder why he got a new passport instead of using the one he had-did he want manipulate it or

Because if his family saw his passport was missing, that would be suspicious? Someone who drowns in an accident would still have a passport at home.

 

[wnk]

Also do we have an official timeline yet?

RYAN BORGWARDT [RB] - 45-year-old man from Watertown, WI
Wife [EB]
3 children (1 middle school, 2 high school)

---

TIMELINE

July 2002
- RB & EB marriage [27]

January 2024
- new $375k life insurance policy taken out [22]

W May 22
- new passport issued to RB after it was reported lost or stolen [22]

Su Aug 11
- RB’s laptop synced with icloud, email addresses for financial accounts changed, browsers cleared [22] moved funds to foreign bank [24] took photos of passport [25]
- 10:49 PM - wife receives text saying RB was heading for shore [23]

M Aug 12: REPORTED MISSING
- 5:30 PM - family reports RB missing after failing to return from kayaking trip [1]
- car found in parking lot [21] of Dodge Memorial Park in Markesan [25] w trailer [28]
- LE searches Green Lake until 8pm with drones, boats [1] including Bruce’s Legacy S&R org [2]
- LE discovers overturned kayak & life jacket near Dodge Memorial Park [1] on western side of lake [25]

T Aug 13
- LE searches Green Lake [1]
- RB’s name checked by LE in Canada [22]

W Aug 14
- LE update on Green Lake search with sonar & underwater drones [3]

F Aug 16
- LE update on Green Lake search [4]

T Aug 20
- LE update on Green Lake search [5]

F Aug 23
- LE update on Green Lake search w K9 team, divers [6]

Su Aug 25
- LE update on Green Lake search w more divers [7]

M Aug 26
- LE update on Green Lake search w sonar grid search [8]

T Aug 27
- LE update on Green Lake search w drones [9][10]

Th Aug 29
- LE update on Green Lake search w drones, divers near area where fishing rod was recovered [11]

Th Sep 5
- LE update on Green Lake daily searches [12]

M Sep 9
- RB’s birthday [14]
- LE update on Green Lake search [13] w Bruce’s Legacy S&R [14]

W Sep 11
- Bruce’s Legacy S&R update on Green Lake search [15]

Th Sep 19
- LE update on Green Lake search w Bruce’s Legacy S&R [16]

F Sep 20
- Bruce’s Legacy S&R update on Green Lake search [17]

Sa Sep 28
- Bruce’s Legacy S&R update on Green Lake search [18]

T Oct 1
- LE update on Green Lake search w Bruce’s Legacy S&R [19]

F Oct 4
- Bruce’s Legacy S&R tells LE that lake has been thoroughly searched [26]

M Oct 7
- LE decides to look for digital evidence [28]

“Early Oct”
- LE finds evidence that RB orchestrated his disappearance [25]

T Oct 29
- search temporary suspended due to cooler temperatures; items recovered: kayak, life jacket, water bottle, tackle box, and fishing rod [20] (tackle box contained keys and wallet [25])

Th Nov 7
- LE reports that they believe RB faked his death and fled the country (laptop hard drive replaced, browsers cleared, laptop synced, passports photographed, email addresses of financial accounts changed, life insurance policy, airline gift card purchase, communication w woman from Uzbekistan) [22]

F Nov 8
- LE reports they believe RB is alive and “likely in Eastern Europe.” [23] (family told “several days earlier” [24])

---

SOURCES
[1] 12 Aug 2024 (updated 13 Aug) - WBAY - Rescuers continue searching Green Lake for missing kayaker
[2] 12 Aug 2024 - Bruce’s Legacy Facebook - Bruce's Legacy
[3] 14 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[4] 16 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[5] 20 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[6] 23 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[7] 25 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[8] 26 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[9] 27 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - 13K views · 259 reactions | Just can't say enough about the innovation and skill of our drone pilots. We have been using the drone in conjunction with our small boat to maximize... | By Green Lake County Sheriff's Office | Facebook
[10] 27 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - 26K views · 256 reactions | A video landing the drone on our small boat during our daily search. We are able to cover about 10 miles per hour, and effectively search about half of... | By Green Lake County Sheriff's Office | Facebook
[11] 29 Aug 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[12] 5 Sep 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[13] 9 Sep 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[14] 9 Sep 2024 - Bruce’s Legacy Facebook - Bruce's Legacy
[15] 11 Sep 2024 - Bruce’s Legacy Facebook - Bruce's Legacy
[16] 19 Sep 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[17] 20 Sep 2024 - Bruce’s Legacy Facebook - Bruce's Legacy
[18] 28 Sep 2024 - Bruce’s Legacy Facebook - Bruce's Legacy
[19] 1 Oct 2024 - Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Facebook - Log into Facebook
[20] 29 Oct 2024 - Daily Dodge - Search For Missing Kayaker From Watertown Temporarily Suspended | Daily Dodge
[21] 5 Nov 2024 - Bring Me the News - https://bringmethenews.com/wisconsin-news/wisconsin-father-still-missing-after-august-kayak-trip
[22] 7 Nov 2024 - WBAY - Kayaker reported missing in Green Lake faked his disappearance, authorities believe
[23] 8 Nov 2024 - FDL Reporter - Missing Green Lake kayaker believed to have staged own disappearance, fled to Europe
[24] 9 Nov 2024 - Ripon Press - Missing Green Lake kayaker believed to have faked his own death; thought to be in another country
[25] 9 Nov 2024 - WJFW - Wisconsin kayaker faked his disappearance, authorities say after months of searching for him

<modsnip - not an approved source>

[27] 11 Nov 2024 - Daily Mail - Missing Wisconsin father faked his own death and 'fled the country'
[28] 12 Nov 2024 - USA Today - Wisconsin authorities believe kayaker staged his disappearance and fled to Europe

 

[Mitch1]

Because if his family saw his passport was missing, that would be suspicious? Someone who drowns in an accident would still have a passport at home.

That was one of my thoughts along with, was it going to expire soon- while you are supposed to send them your old passport when getting another you wouldn’t have to if you report it lost/stolen I imagine.

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

Hi everybody! I feel some commenters are overthinking this. It is pretty obvious why he travelled from Canada and what he was planning on doing to earn a living in Uzbekistan (or wherever he is by now...) He flew from Canada as ''officially'' he perished in that lake, so US authorities would not have a record of him leaving the country if he left via Canada.

As for money abroad, how many Americans are working in Bulgaria, Albania and further afield (Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey, etc) cash in hand as EFL teachers not giving out their real name in order to avoid US double taxation and keep their dodgy past hidden from others? People (language school owners) do not ask questions if you have the perfect pronunciation to teach English and lots of schools in those countries actually prefer those willing to work cash in hand in order to avoid paying local taxes. They help each other out. Believe me, I have seen it. I have lost track of the number of Americans I have met who even hesitate when you ask them what their name is, others casually tell you (when you attend international parties) they are ''off the radar'' to avoid the US double taxation. I am talking here thousands and thousands of Americans doing that, not just a handful.

Why did he apply for a new passport? He most likely has not told the woman in Uzbekistan he is a married man with three teenage children, he probably told her he is either widowed or divorced, and naively enough he might have thought that with a new passport it would be easier if he ever decides to marry her because the new passport would not be linked to his previous one. This is not how it works but some people believe that.

This character has no moral compass. Lust has made him lose the plot. He could have sat down with his wife and told her ''I have fallen in love with someone else and I want a divorce'' and not this mess...

 

[priyaya]

Because if his family saw his passport was missing, that would be suspicious? Someone who drowns in an accident would still have a passport at home.

yeah i was thinking something similar. Perhaps he had already travelled outside of the US and he also didn't want his family to see the new stamps.

scanning wise it wouldn't matter. a new passport has a new number so having the previous one stolen wouldn't help him out or anything.

its well planned but also incredibly stupid. I feel investigators had to know he went to Canada on the 13th, if he had been reported missing on the 12th. somehow that's what isn't making sense to me but maybe their is a flaw in the syste

the gift card i'm also wondering about. maybe he didn't want it to show up on the credit card statements or it somehow bypassed the system that would flag you

 

[truthfinder2019]

Because if his family saw his passport was missing, that would be suspicious? Someone who drowns in an accident would still have a passport at home.

Or, maybe, because some Countries do require a passport valid for many months after the travel date. But this would not explain why he said he had lost it ( I cannot find where I read this)

 

[LadyL]

NOV 11, 2024

Wisconsin officials believe kayaker missing since summer faked his death and is in Europe

Ryan Borgwardt disappeared on Aug. 12 after he took out a life insurance policy and communicated with a woman from Uzbekistan, the Green Lake County sheriff said.

www.nbcnews.com

Podoll said the investigation shifted focus across the Atlantic when it was discovered that Borgwardt’s passport was “run” on Aug. 13, the day after he disappeared.

Meanwhile, the discovery that Canadian authorities had run his passport prompted investigators to conduct a digital forensic analysis of Borgwardt’s laptop.

"Searching that ... we have found that he was in some place in Europe," Podoll said, alleging that Borgwardt replaced the laptop's hard drive and cleared his browser the day he disappeared.

Kayaker missing 3 months faked disappearance and fled country, Wisconsin officials say

A kayaker reported missing from Green Lake, Wisconsin, in August is now thought to have faked his own disappearance and fled the country to Europe.

www.cbsnews.com

Vandelkolk told CBS News the fact that Borgrwardt's name was checked by law enforcement in Canada after he seemingly went missing "caught our attention," because it meant "he had contact with Canadian law enforcement in some way, shape or form."

"We've still got to work out all the specifics of that with the Canadian government," said Vandelkolk.

he replaced the hard drive and cleared the browser and they still found his trail

 

[truthfinder2019]

Officials are pressing on with their investigation into Borgwardt, focusing their efforts on gathering further information about his motive and whereabouts.

Borgwardt’s wife, E.B., told NBC News via text, “I cannot make any comments at this time since it is still an active investigation.”

The investigation continues to involve multiple agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, with officials seeking to locate Borgwardt and address any potential legal violations.

What happened with the missing father who allegedly faked a kayaking accident and fled to Europe?

The search for Ryan Borgwardt’s body in a lake has dragged on since August. Now investigators think he might have staged his disappearance and fled to Europe.

www.today.com

 

[Mitch1]

Or, maybe, because some Countries do require a passport valid for many months after the travel date. But this would not explain why he said he had lost it ( I cannot find where I read this)

Perhaps “lost passport” is pulling double duty. Ensuring he can use the passport for quite a while and so they don’t immediately suspect he left the country

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

The average price of a three-room (two bedrooms and a living room) apartment in Tashkent, the capital city of Uznekistan, is $72,000, slightly cheaper in other parts of the country. That is not a lot of money if this character has savings. Comparison: How many years does it take residents to buy a house in Uzbekistan and other countries of the world?

 

[Megnut]

Just now catching up to speed. She questions y'all have. Is the women real? Catfishing hooks decent people every day.... is he one? Is he pursuing real love or a scam? Does he think he's rescuing someone, has he been pulled in by a scam where he thinks it's a real relationship and forces are preventing "her" from getting away? Has he invested money in this over time? Converting money into virtual coinage?

The life insurance policy seems like a thin "I'm sorry, don't want to leave you without something, but I do want to leave..."

How, I wonder, did LE uncover this woman from Uzbekistan? Do they have a cache of messages? Seems the missing hard drive suggests that that's where his history is, likely using an app that doesn't save content, but is LE able to get a warrant from the apps themselves? He's not technically in danger nor charged with a crime so how much can LE do?

If there's evidence he pilfered joint marital funds, can she press charges in order to elevate it from missing person to criminal investigation? Adults can walk away from their lives, all moral judgment aside.

Catfishing creates victims, if that's what this is. Bazillion dollar industry. Could LE pursue it in that regard, that he's a potential victim of an international crime and that he could in fact be in very real danger if the woman doesn't exist and he encounters the scammers.

Straight up affair, of course it could be that, I just think that's less likely than a hoax that hooked him.

Will he come home on his own?

Really feeling for his family.

JMO

 

[Mitch1]

http://werc.wi.gov/grievance_awards/7601.pdf

Found the reason they fired him odd, didn’t even seem like they gave him a warning to not use the computers anymore

 

[Bounceycat]

If there's evidence he pilfered joint marital funds, can she press charges in order to elevate it from missing person to criminal investigation? Adults can walk away from their lives, all moral judgment aside.

Wisconsin is a community property state, so by default all their assets would be 50/50 without a prior agreement/pre-nup. I'd imagine she could file for divorce and he'd be forced to produce info about the funds on discovery. But that's if she can find him, I suppose.