Authorities stated on Wednesday that the Wisconsin man, who reportedly staged his own death before appearing alive and well abroad, had returned to the United States and was arrested by sheriff’s deputies.
Ryan Borgwardt was charged with suspected obstruction of an officer when he appeared before a Green Lake County judge on Wednesday afternoon while handcuffed and dressed in an orange jumpsuit.
When asked if he could afford bail by Circuit Court Judge Mark Slate, Borgwardt responded, “I have $20 in my wallet.”
Borgwardt “voluntarily turned himself in” from “halfway around the world,” according to Slate, who also ordered bond at $500, stating that the defendant did not constitute a significant flight risk.
For allegedly staging his own death before flying across the Atlantic Ocean, Borgwardt might be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to nine months.
“We brought a dad back on his own accord,” Sheriff Mark Podoll previously told reporters.
Before Borgwardt returned home on his own initiative, the sheriff refused to disclose where he had been residing. According to Podoll, he might be ordered to pay back the expenses of the search and rescue operation.
“Relieved,” the sheriff spoke, describing his feelings upon Borgwardt’s return. “We didn’t stop. We keep helping our community whenever we receive a call.
Podoll talked passionately about how happy he was to persuade Borgwardt to return to the US.
However, the sheriff refused to disclose any information about the man’s journey, including his contact information with his family, his place of lodging abroad, or even the U.S. airport where he landed on Tuesday.
“At this time, we’re still putting that together,” he stated.
The sheriff expressed gratitude to the local volunteers, federal investigators, and his staff for their efforts on this case.
When Podoll said, “They’re the ones that kept this going,” his voice broke with emotion. For what they done for a family, I am incredibly proud of them. We persisted. And you can feel relieved as you stand here today.”
Borgwardt is charged with fabricating his abduction on August 12 while kayaking on Green Lake, which is approximately 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
Searchers discovered a capsized kayak, Borgwardt’s car, and his trailer parked in Dodge Memorial County Park after he failed to return home that day.
Despite a desperate air and sea search, no physical evidence or remains of Borgwardt were found.
In Canada, Borgwardt used his own passport to help authorities track down his lengthy travel abroad, so if he wanted to get off the grid, he selected a foolish route.
According to officials, investigators eventually discovered that he had hidden an electric bike in a tiny inflatable boat that he used to return to shore. According to officials, Borgward rode it to Madison, took a bus to Detroit, traveled into Canada, and then got on an aircraft.
According to officials, the investigation also discovered that Borgwardt had created a bank account abroad.
According to officials, a Russian-speaking woman contacted Green Lake County Sheriff’s officers and assisted them in getting in touch with the errant parent following an international plea for assistance in finding Borgwardt.
A portion of the sheriff’s department’s video chat with Borgwardt, who on November 11 claimed to be alive, well, and residing in an apartment, was made public on November 21. No one knew exactly where he was at the time.
Borgwardt had been urged by the sheriff to spend the Christmas with his family at home.
“We just briefly spoke to them (the man’s family), and I can only, only imagine how they feel,” added Podoll.
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