Why Officials Think a Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Flew to Europe
Authorities believe that a missing man might have been trying to avoid being found. After Ryan Borgwardt
vanished during a kayaking excursion on Green Lake, Wisconsin Aug. 12, authorities now
say that they believe the father of three is still alive because he took out a life-insurance policy and communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan. Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news briefing on Nov. 8, that authorities had found Borgwardt’s kayak capsized in the lake during the summer. His vehicle and trailer were parked in Dodge Memorial County Park, Green Lake. Inside the vehicle of 44-year old Borgwardt, authorities found his wallet, including his license, and keys. They also located a fishing pole and tackle box that his wife Emily Borgwardt identified as her husband’s. The search for Borgwardt lasted eight weeks, and included the arrival of cadaver canines on August 24. However, despite their efforts to find him with the assistance of the cadaver dog team who arrived at the scene. In the briefing, the authorities revealed that during the search for Borgwardt’s body they discovered that his United States Passport was “run,” meaning it needed to be renewed on August 13. The same day, Canadian law enforcement searched Borgwardt’s name and found that he obtained a new travel document.
