On Thursday, November 21, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it had been in touch with Ryan Borgwardt, the kayaker who was previously believed to have vanished this summer. But was later assumed to have staged his own death.
During the 54-day search for Borgwardt, divers, sonar, drones, and a large number of people were used.
According to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll, the price might reach $40,000. Charlie DeGroot has experience with challenging dives.
However, this one could have been the most difficult. Not because of the thing he was trying to find.
“We do a lot of technical dives, getting into really deep water,” DeGroot said. “It’s kind of disappointing to have all these areas of interest and then coming up holding your hands up in the air. There’s nothing there.”
In August, DeGroot agreed to assist the sheriff’s office in their search for Borgwardt along with another diver.
According to authorities, the 45-year-old drowned after his kayak capsized. The water was scoured for almost two months. The only rubbish discovered was typical lake litter.
DeGroot stated, “Like a hat, a couple of other things like that, not related to Ryan, of course.” Investigators later found out why, claiming that the father of three and husband staged his own death before fleeing the nation.
Video of Borgwardt was shown at a news conference Thursday.
The sheriff’s office said investigators have been in daily communication with the individual, who confessed to fabricating his own drowning, traveling to Canada, and boarding a ticket abroad.
Though they are unsure of his precise whereabouts, authorities claim he is in Europe.
Borgwardt assured officials, “I’m in my apartment, I am safe, secure, no problem.” This result, according to DeGroot, is the deep dive he never anticipated.
Is Borgwardt going to be billed?
According to Mark Podoll, Borgwardt is charged with impeding justice for orchestrating his demise. Regarding potential or pending federal accusations, he is unable to comment.
Green Lake County, excluding dive costs, will seek restitution in the range of $35,000 to $40,000. As of yet, no warrants have been issued.
The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office has received assistance in the investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and other organizations.
Charlie DeGroot and Bruce’s Legacy helped with the dive.