The case of Ryan Borgwardt, a Wisconsin man who staged his own death during a kayaking trip, has finally reached its conclusion. On August 26, 2025, a Green Lake County judge sentenced him to 89 days in jail for obstruction of an officer, with the number of days symbolically matching the 89 days he was reported missing. He was also ordered to pay 30,000 dollars in restitution to cover the cost of the extensive search operations that had been launched to find him.
Borgwardt disappeared in August 2024 after taking his kayak out on Big Green Lake. When his overturned kayak and life vest were discovered, authorities and community members believed he had drowned. For weeks, law enforcement officers, divers, rescue teams, and volunteers searched tirelessly, convinced they were looking for a body. His apparent death shook the small Wisconsin community, leaving his family devastated and his friends heartbroken.
However, the truth eventually emerged. Investigators uncovered evidence that Borgwardt had meticulously planned his disappearance. Reports revealed he had obtained a new passport, moved money into overseas accounts, deleted his digital tracks, and even reversed a vasectomy. He had also taken out a 375,000 dollar life insurance policy, raising questions about his true motives. Instead of being lost at sea, Borgwardt had fled to Europe, leaving behind a staged scene that deceived not only his loved ones but also law enforcement.
In December 2024, after nearly three months on the run, Borgwardt voluntarily returned to the United States and surrendered to authorities. His return surprised many, as the obstruction charge he faced was a misdemeanor and not subject to extradition. This decision to come back and face consequences was noted by both prosecutors and his defense attorney.
During his sentencing, Borgwardt expressed deep regret for his actions. Speaking in court, he apologized to his family, friends, and the wider community, admitting that his choices had caused immense pain and embarrassment. He acknowledged the resources wasted on the search and admitted that his behavior had damaged trust in ways that could never fully be repaired.
The judge, in handing down the 89-day sentence, stressed the need for accountability. By aligning the jail term with the length of Borgwardt’s disappearance, the court sent a clear message: the time, money, and energy wasted on his deception would not be overlooked. The restitution payment will go toward reimbursing law enforcement and state agencies that had spent thousands of taxpayer dollars in the search effort.
Although Borgwardt has already served a small portion of his sentence, he will remain in the Green Lake County Jail to complete the remainder. The case has served as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of the consequences of elaborate schemes to evade responsibility. For many in Wisconsin, it also closed a chapter on a story that had once sparked confusion, fear, and heartbreak.