Man Who Faked His Death to Meet Online Lover in Uzbekistan is Alive, Sends Video to Police

The father from Wisconsin who faked his own death and went missing in order to run off with another woman to another country is reportedly alive.

To provide context, a previous case involved a father who faked his death to meet a woman in Uzbekistan whom he had met online. Read more about how he staged his dramatic escape.

Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old married man and father of three, reportedly sent a proof-of-life video to the police.

Ryan is said to be taunting authorities by sending the video but refusing to disclose his exact location.

As previously reported, Ryan flipped his kayak intentionally on Green Lake on August 11th earlier this year. He dumped his phone and other belongings in the lake before getting out of the water. He then e-biked over 50 miles overnight to Madison, Wisconsin, boarded a bus to Detroit, crossed into Canada, and eventually boarded a plane, according to Deputy Sheriff Podoll.

Authorities have now established contact with Ryan through the woman he allegedly ran off to be with. She reportedly speaks Russian. The police asked him to answer specific questions only he would know the answers to and requested that he film a video of himself, which he did.

In the video, Ryan showed off his apartment and assured authorities that he was safe and secure with no issues.

While police do not know his exact location, they suspect he is somewhere in Eastern Europe. They do not believe he is in any danger.

Since November 11th, authorities have maintained daily communication with Ryan. In a press conference, Podoll stated that Ryan has not yet decided to return home. However, establishing contact with him marked a significant turning point in the investigation.

The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Department is now seeking $35,000 to $40,000 in restitution for the resources used in the search for Ryan, which included divers, drones, sonar equipment, and cadaver dogs.

Ryan could also face obstruction charges. Authorities are urging him to return home, emphasizing that he needs to come back for the sake of his children, hoping to appeal to his emotions.