The Case of Ryan Borgwardt: A Story of Deception and Consequences
Ryan Borgwardt, a man from Watertown, is set to appear in court in Green Lake for a plea and sentencing hearing related to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer. Borgwardt admitted to authorities that he staged his own drowning due to personal reasons. He traveled to Green Lake, overturned his kayak, disposed of his phone, and then paddled to shore on an inflatable boat. Following this, he rode an electric bike to Madison, took a bus to Detroit, then traveled to Canada by bus and plane. The search for his body cost the sheriff's office at least $35,000. Borgwardt's wife filed for legal separation two days after his return to Wisconsin, and their divorce was finalized this year.