In brief
Authorities in Wisconsin are in ongoing contact with Ryan Borgwardt, the Watertown man who orchestrated an elaborate scheme to fake his death by kayaking. After disappearing for months, he has recently sent a video claiming to be “safe” while communicating from Eastern Europe.
In a news briefing on Thursday, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark A. Podoll shared a 24-second clip of Borgwardt, filmed in a bare apartment with white walls and a gray door. In the video, a visibly calm Borgwardt states, “Good evening, it’s Ryan Borgwardt. Today is Nov. 11. It’s approximately 10 a.m. by you guys. I’m in my apartment. I am safe, secure, no problem.”Despite consistent communication with authorities, Borgwardt has not confirmed plans to return to his home in Wisconsin, leaving behind a family that includes a wife and three children. Sheriff Podoll emphasized the emotional toll of Borgwardt's actions, stating, “We keep pulling at his heartstrings,” adding, “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to continue because he needs to come home to his kids.” While the authorities remain hopeful for his return, it appears repose may still be a distant prospect.
