Wisconsin Kayaker Who Faked Death And Left For Europe Sentenced To 89 Days In Jail

A Wisconsin man accused of plotting an elaborate strategy to clone his death successful a kayaking mishap and fly nan state pleaded nary title Tuesday to a misdemeanor complaint of obstruction.

Ryan Borgwardt, 45, was sentenced to 89 days successful jailhouse — nan magnitude of clip that he spent misleading authorities, Green Lake County Circuit Court Judge Mark Slate said earlier announcing nan jailhouse term.

Borgwardt, who appeared successful a achromatic checkered button-up and grey pants, was besides ordered to salary $30,000 successful costs associated pinch a hunt effort that lasted astir 2 months.

In a little connection to nan court, nan begetter of 3 said he profoundly regretted his actions and nan symptom he caused his family and friends.

Green Lake County District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa told nan tribunal that Borgwardt spent months researching nan strategy successful an effort to vanish from his life successful Wisconsin and create a caller 1 successful nan state of Georgia, formerly of nan Soviet Union.

He reversed a vasectomy, took retired a ample life security policy, obtained a caller passport and transferred money overseas, LaSpisa said. He researched really to clone a drowning and chose Green Lake, with its mean extent of 100 feet, because he believed "a assemblage would not surface," she said.

Borgwardt past traveled to Georgia to beryllium pinch a female whom he'd met online, nan charismatic said.

"His full scheme to clone his death, to devastate his family successful bid to service his ain selfish desires hinged connected him dying successful nan reservoir and trading his decease to nan world," LaSpisa said.

Ryan Borgwardt.Courtesy Green Lake County Sheriff's Office

Borgwardt was reported missing Aug. 12, aft his capsized kayak and sportfishing cogwheel were discovered successful nan lake. That study prompted a lengthy hunt of its much than 7,000 acres that included divers, underwater drones and sonar.

According to a criminal complaint, LaSpisa said that Borgwardt had really utilized a mini inflatable vessel to return to statement and an electrical motorcycle to thrust to Madison. He past fled nan country, heading first to Canada and later to Georgia, LaSpisa said.

Authorities were capable to way his overseas travels successful portion because he utilized nan caller passport he'd obtained successful Canada.

Borgwardt’s scheme unraveled erstwhile a Russian-speaking female contacted deputies successful Green Lake County and connected them pinch Borgwardt, according to nan complaint. The sheriff’s agency later released a clip of a video telephone authorities had pinch him.

“Good evening, it’s Ryan Borgwardt,” he told nan camera. “Today is Nov. 11. It’s astir 10 a.m. by you guys. I’m successful my apartment. I americium safe, secure, nary problem.”

By December, Borgwardt had returned to Wisconsin.

His lawyer said Tuesday that nan misdemeanor crime he was charged pinch was a non-extraditable offense.

"If he didn't want to travel back, he didn't request to travel back," said nan attorney, Erik Johnson, adding: "He came backmost from Europe to return work for his actions."