Wisconsin man who faked death during kayak trip sentenced to 89 days

A Wisconsin man who faked his own death during a kayaking trip so he could flee to Europe and be with an online partner was sentenced to 89 days in county jail, matching the number of days authorities believed he remained missing. The judge also ordered him to pay 30,000 in restitution to the local sheriff’s office and the state Department of Natural Resources for the resources expended during the extensive search and investigation.

The case centers on Ryan Borgwardt, 45, of Watertown, a married father of three who disappeared on August 11, 2024, during a kayaking trip on Green Lake, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee. An overturned kayak and a life jacket recovered at the scene prompted investigators to treat the incident as a drowning. A rapid, high profile search ensued, drawing on community volunteers and law enforcement resources, and lasting eight weeks. The operation cost at least 50,000, and the investigation gained momentum when authorities learned that Borgwardt had stepped away from his family and began communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan.

Investigators pieced together a startling sequence of actions Borgwardt undertook to disappear. He reportedly reversed...