Current:Home > NewsWhy Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe-LoTradeCoin
Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
View Date:2024-12-23 18:44:58
Authorities believe a missing man may have intended not to be found.
After Ryan Borgwardt disappeared during a kayaking trip on Green Lake in Wisconsin Aug. 12, officials now say they believe the dad of three is alive after he took out a life insurance policy and engaged in communication with a woman from Uzbekistan.
Authorities had found Borgwardt’s kayak capsized on the lake over the summer, with his vehicle and trailer parked in Dodge Memorial County Park in Green Lake, Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a Nov. 8 news briefing, per NBC News.
Inside the 44-year-old’s vehicle, authorities located his wallet—including his license—and keys, as well as a fishing tackle box and pole his wife identified Emily Borgwardt as belonging to her husband. However, while authorities searched the lake for eight weeks—including with the help of cadaver dogs which arrived on the scene Aug. 24—they were unable to locate him.
Amid the search for Borgwardt’s body, authorities said in the briefing that they found that his United States passport was “run,” or in need of renewal on Aug. 13. That same day, law enforcement in Canada searched Borgwardt’s name, finding that he had obtained a new passport.
Chief Deputy Matthew L. Vande Kolk noted during the news briefing, per NBC News, “We learned that he reported his original passport lost or stolen, and obtained a new passport.”
Borgwardt’s wife was able to “easily” supply authorities with her husband’s original passport, with Kolk adding during the briefing, “We suspect he traveled on the ‘new’ passport.”
Upon discovering Borgwardt’s passport activity, authorities began a digital forensic search of his laptop, finding that he had cleared or replaced his hard drive and cleared his browsing history on the day of his disappearance—as well as his most recent location placing him in Europe.
Sheriff Podoll also detailed his online activities, saying that Borgwardt had allegedly taken photos of his passport, moved funds to a foreign bank account, changed his email address as well as being believed to have been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan.
They further pointed to a life insurance policy for $375,000 that Borgwardt had taken out in January.
“Due to these discoveries of the new evidence, we were sure that Ryan was not in our lake,” Podoll added during the news briefing. “Our goal is to identify any crimes that have been committed by any individuals who assisted with this crime.”
At this time, authorities cannot identify what crimes, if any, Borgwardt would be charged with if found. Podoll also urged him to contact the authorities or his family during the briefing.
As the sheriff noted, “We understand that things can happen, but there's a family that wants their daddy back.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (22)
Related
- A wayward sea turtle wound up in the Netherlands. A rescue brought it thousands of miles back home
- It Ends With Us: See Brandon Sklenar and Blake Lively’s Chemistry in First Pics as Atlas and Lily
- Alec Baldwin Reacts to Birth of First Grandchild After Ireland Baldwin Welcomes Baby Girl
- Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard Celebrate Her Birthday Ahead of Duggar Family Secrets Release
- Suspected shooter and four others are found dead in three Kansas homes, police say
- Lowe’s, Walgreens Tackle Electric Car Charging Dilemma in the U.S.
- Facing floods: What the world can learn from Bangladesh's climate solutions
- Ignoring Scientists’ Advice, Trump’s EPA Rejects Stricter Air Quality Standard
- Man jailed after Tuskegee University shooting says he fired his gun, but denies shooting at anyone
- Scientists sequence Beethoven's genome for clues into his painful past
Ranking
- Horoscopes Today, November 10, 2024
- What's driving the battery fires with e-bikes and scooters?
- Uh-oh. A new tropical mosquito has come to Florida. The buzz it's creating isn't good
- Trump’s Move to Suspend Enforcement of Environmental Laws is a Lifeline to the Oil Industry
- Stressing over Election Day? Try these apps and tools to calm your nerves
- Decades of Science Denial Related to Climate Change Has Led to Denial of the Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Venture Aims to Improve Wind Energy Forecasting and Save Billions
- Michigan man arrested for planning mass killing at synagogue
Recommendation
-
Nicole Kidman Reveals the Surprising Reason for Starring in NSFW Movie Babygirl
-
Weaponizing the American flag as a tool of hate
-
Save 80% On Kate Spade Crossbody Bags: Shop These Under $100 Picks Before They Sell Out
-
Justin Timberlake Declares He's Now Going By Jessica Biel's Boyfriend After Hilarious TikTok Comment
-
Flurry of contract deals come as railroads, unions see Trump’s election looming over talks
-
Megan Fox Rocks Sheer Look at Sports Illustrated Event With Machine Gun Kelly
-
Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell Celebrates Carly's 14th Birthday With Sweet Tribute
-
Several injured after Baltimore bus strikes 2 cars, crashes into building, police say