Ryan Borgwardt pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer after faking his death in August 2024.
The 45-year-old was sentenced to 89 days in jail on Tuesday (August 26) in Green Lake County court, where Judge Mark Slate emphasized the length of time his deception lasted as a critical factor in the ruling.
Although both the prosecution and defense recommended a 45-day jail sentence, the judge imposed a harsher sentence in light of the significant disruption caused by Borgwardt’s actions.
“I deeply regret the actions that I did that night and all the pain that I caused my family and friends,” Borgwardt told the court, per CBS News.
His attorney, Erik Johnson, stated that the man “is here taking responsibility for his actions” and expressed remorse for the trauma inflicted on those around him.
Borgwardt’s saga began on August 11, 2024, when he texted his wife that he was turning around on Green Lake and would be heading back to shore soon, but he never returned home.
When an overturned kayak and lifejacket were discovered, authorities feared the worst and launched an extensive search that lasted for weeks. Volunteers and law enforcement officials scoured the lake, but Borgwardt was nowhere to be found.
However, in October, investigators uncovered a series of suspicious clues. The man had been in contact with a woman from Uzbekistan, and his name had been flagged in Canada shortly after he was reported missing, The New York Post reported.
Police later discovered he had cleared his browsing history, applied for a new passport, and even obtained a life insurance policy months before his disappearance.
Investigators traced Borgwardt’s steps, learning that he had traveled to Canada and eventually made his way to Paris before reaching Georgia, where he was living with the woman he had met online.
The man, who had once been a husband and father of three, had intentionally disappeared to create a new life abroad.
Green Lake County District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa blasted the father of three’s “premeditated, selfish actions” for the “incredible damage” he caused “not only to his family, but our community”.
“His entire plan to fake his death to devastate his family in order to serve his own selfish desires hinged on him dying in the lake and selling his death to the world,” LaSpisa added.
Borgwardt’s escape was not without complications as he traveled by electric bike from Green Lake to Madison, then caught a bus to Detroit, crossed into Canada, and ultimately flew to Europe.
It wasn’t until November that authorities tracked him down, and he returned to the United States in December to face charges. Upon his return, Borgwardt admitted that he had staged his death because of “personal matters” and believed that authorities would eventually abandon the search for him.
Borgwardt’s actions prompted an outpouring of resources and dedication from local officials and volunteers, with search costs reaching $50,000.
In addition to his jail sentence, the fleeing man was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the costs of the extensive search operation.
The impact on his family has been profound as Borgwardt’s wife of 22 years, Emily, filed for divorce four months after his return, citing that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
As for Borgwardt, his legal team emphasized his regret and shared that he returned to the US to “make amends,” although the emotional scars left by his actions will likely remain with his family for years to come.
