GREEN LAKE, Wis–A Watertown man accused of faking his death in Green Lake will remain free on bond while awaiting trial. Ryan Borgwardt is charged in Green Lake County Court with misdemeanor Obstructing an Officer.
Borgwardt left an overturned kayak on Green Lake back in August. After a search of the lake turned up nothing, investigators learned that Borgwardt was likely alive, and had moved to be with a woman in Uzbekistan. He was arrested on his return to the U-S on Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, he rode an electric bike from Green Lake to Madison, took a bus from Madison to Detroit on the way to Toronto–where he then flew to Paris and into an eastern European country. Borgwardt eventually started living in the nation of Georgia.
Judge Mark Slate set a signature bond, believing that Borgwardt is not a flight risk…………..
According to the criminal complaint, Borgwardt was living in the nation of Georgia. He faces up to nine months in jail if convicted.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
GREEN LAKE, Wis. — A man accused of faking his death in Green Lake County and fleeing the country is in custody.
According to online records, Ryan Borgwardt was booked into the Green Lake County Jail shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Borgwardt was reported missing after he did not return home from a kayaking trip in Green Lake back in August. Following weeks of searches, the sheriff’s office announced that he staged a drowning and took steps to move to Europe.
The department made contact with Borgwardt last month and had been negotiating with him to return home. Sheriff Mark Podoll says he came back to the U.S. on Tuesday…………
Podall adds that the department and Borgwardt’s family were notified of his plan to return……….
Borgwardt’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday. He will likely faces charges of obstruction.
