Ryan Borgwardt, a man from Wisconsin who faked his own drowning and left his family for Eastern Europe, willingly returned to the U.S. after four months and was charged with obstructing a lake search for his body. Borgwardt turned himself in to authorities in Green Lake County and was released on $500 bail. He told the judge he only had $20 in his wallet and planned to represent himself in court going forward.
Borgwardt shared details of his disappearance, including his plan to make it seem like he drowned in the lake by paddling to the middle, inflating a raft, and dumping his belongings in the water. He traveled to multiple countries before returning to the U.S. Investigators found information on a laptop he left behind, including a $375,000 life insurance policy for his family.
The search for Borgwardt’s body cost at least $35,000, and he admitted to checking the news for updates on the search. The sheriff noted that Borgwardt returned willingly and declined to provide details on his return trip. The case continues as Borgwardt faces charges of obstruction.
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