Police believe a father of three, who vanished at a Wisconsin lake this summer, may have staged his own death and fled to Eastern Europe.
The investigation started on August 12 when authorities found out that 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt had not returned home and was last seen at Green Lake, according to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
ABC News reports that Borgwardt sent a text to his wife on the night of August 11, indicating he was turning his kayak around to head back to shore, Police later discovered his overturned kayak and life jacket in the lake, as well as his fishing rod and tackle box.
The search continued for about 54 days, with no sign of Ryan,” the sheriff said on Friday. “Near daily drone searches were completed. And Bruce’s Legacy [a volunteer search organization] methodically searched approximately 1,500 acres. … Keith Cormican, [who leads] Bruce’s Legacy, sifted through hours and hours of sonar data and images.”
“Keith’s expertise and equipment led us to believe either something very odd occurred and Ryan was outside the area that had been searched, or something else had occurred.”
CNN reports that investigators uncovered that Borgwardt transferred funds to a foreign bank account, changed his email, and communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan.
In January, he also took out a $375,000 life insurance policy, according to Green Lake Sheriff Mark Podoll.
Investigators also examined his computer, according to Podoll. Their digital forensic analysis showed he replaced the hard drive on his laptop and erased his browser history on the day he vanished.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations have joined the case.
Police are looking into possible crimes and whether anyone aided Borgwardt. The sheriff’s office told CNN on Tuesday that no charges have been brought against him.
Officials are also seeking reimbursement for search expenses covered by taxpayers.
Podoll encouraged anyone with information regarding Borgwardt’s disappearance to reach out to the Green Lake Sheriff’s Office. Anonymous tips are welcome.
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[Feature Photo: Handout/Borgwardt]
