The Wisconsin husband and father, who authorities said faked his own death at a lake and fled the country, has been sentenced to 89 days in jail — the same number of days he was missing, a judge ruled.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, appeared in court on Tuesday to plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer and receive his sentence.
Though the prosecution and defense both recommended 45 days in jail, the judge sentenced Borgwardt to 89 days, citing the number of days his deception lasted. The maximum sentence for the charge is nine months in jail.
“I deeply regret the actions that I did that night and all the pain that I caused my family and friends,” Borgwardt said in court.
“He is here taking responsibility for his actions,” defense attorney Erik Johnson added.
An undated booking photo of Ryan Borgwardt.
Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Borgwardt was accused of intentionally misleading authorities to believe he drowned in August 2024.
Borgwardt “researched and studied how to successfully disappear” and believed that “Green Lake’s great depth would mean that a body would not surface,” the prosecution said in court Tuesday. Borgwardt then traveled to the country of Georgia and created a life with a woman he met online, prosecutors said.
An undated photo of Ryan Borgwardt, who authorities believe faked his own death in a Wisconsin lake and fled to Europe.
Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office
The disappearance began on Aug. 11, when Borgwardt texted his wife that he was turning his kayak around on Green Lake and heading to shore soon — but he never came home, officials said.
Crews found Borgwardt’s overturned kayak and life jacket, officials said, and authorities and volunteers then spent weeks searching the lake for him.
Green Lake County authorities and volunteers search for missing kayaker Ryan Borgwardt.
WBAY
In October, investigators discovered Borgwardt’s name had been checked by law enforcement in Canada two days after he vanished, authorities said. They also learned Borgwardt had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan, authorities said.
Borgwardt’s other suspicious behavior included: clearing his browsers the day he disappeared, inquiring about moving funds to foreign banks, obtaining a new passport and getting a new life insurance policy, authorities said.
Police made contact with Borgwardt in November. The Wisconsin dad returned to the U.S. in December and was charged.
