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“I’m safe”: the American kayaker who faked his death to flee to Europe gives his news

He finally gives his news. Ryan Borgwardt, a 44-year-old father, faked his death last August during a kayaking trip on a lake in Wisconsin (United States). After 54 days of searching during which volunteers, divers and even body detection dogs mobilized to comb the bottom of the lake and try to find the man they thought was drowned, the investigators ended up changing their angle of view. research and take an interest in the personal life of the missing person.

After discovering that the 40-year-old had deleted his browsing history, transferred funds to a foreign bank, taken out $375,000 in life insurance, purchased airline passes, communicated with a woman in Uzbekistan and was spotted at the Canadian border, authorities came to suspect that the man had faked his death to flee and abandon his family.

“He hasn’t decided to go home yet.”

Finally, while the police repeatedly called Ryan Borgwardt to provide news, particularly because “there is a family who wants his dad back”, the latter finally gave signs of life almost three months after his disappearance, or rather his escape, police said.

“Great news: We know he is alive and healthy,” Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Matthew L. Vande Kolk said Thursday. “The bad news is that we don't know exactly where Ryan is and he hasn't decided to go home yet,” he added.

Indeed, in a 24-second video sent to the authorities last week, the father made a point of showing signs of life without giving too many details. “Good evening, this is Ryan Borgwardt,” he begins. “Today is November 11th. It's around 10 a.m. where you live. I'm in my apartment. I'm safe, no problem. I hope it will work. »

Since receiving that video, investigators were able to make contact with him the same day and have communicated with him almost daily, according to Matthew L. Vande Kolk, but he has still not spoken to his family.

An escape by boat, bicycle, bus and plane

During these exchanges, he revealed to authorities how he tried to orchestrate her death and fled. After sinking his kayak and cell phone in the lake, he paddled a rowboat to shore, where he had hidden an electric bike. He drove all night with it to the town of Madison (Wisconsin), took a bus to Detroit (Michigan) and then took a plane to Canada, to an unknown destination.

Authorities added that Ryan Borgwardt expressed regret over how he hurt his family and felt bad about the efforts being made to search for him. The sheriff's office said it is preparing to charge him with obstruction of justice, and the county will seek up to $40,000 in “restitution” to offset search costs.

Investigators have still not revealed what motivated the father to abandon his family, but police said he did so for “several reasons.” At the end of his press conference, the sheriff showed emotion, saying that children are being deprived of their fathers. “Christmas is coming, and what better gift could he give his children than to be there for Christmas with them,” he concluded.

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