Anthony Yates
A Wisconsin man who faked his own death reappeared alive and well 89 days after his disappearance. A judge served him an oddly specific prison sentence to suit his crime.
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What happened: According to a report by ABC News, authorities believed 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt drowned in August 2024. He supposedly died on August 11, but a previous report by the outlet explains that authorities found him alive on November 11.
Borgwardt, a married father of three, pleaded “no contest” to the charge of obstructing an officer in court on Tuesday. The offense is a misdemeanor.
The outlet reveals that the Attorneys recommended that Borgwardt serve 45 days in jail. However, the judge decided that he should spend precisely 89 days behind bars to match the number of days he was missing. Borgwardt reportedly said in court, “I deeply regret the actions that I did that night and all the pain that I caused my family and friends.”
- ABC News points out that the charge carries a maximum sentence of nine months. Per CBS, Borgwardt also agreed to pay $30,000 in restitution to cover the costs law enforcement spent looking for him.
Investigators Explain How They Discovered The Man Faked His Own Death
Borgwardt Staged A Kayak Accident: A report by CBS explains that Borgwardt told his wife he was kayaking on Green Lake. She notified authorities that he was missing the next day.
Officers reportedly found his car and a capsized kayak by the lake in an area where the water is over 200 feet deep. Authorities reported the man missing on August 11, but investigators discovered Canadian authorities had checked him on August 13.
The outlet details that police noted suspicious behavior before Borgwardt went missing. He reportedly purchased a new passport three months prior, and authorities noted strange activity on his laptop.
Ultimately, investigators made contact in November and convinced him to return to the US. Police believed he faked his death to meet up with a woman he was in contact with from Uzbekistan.
An Inevitable Separation: Per an article from AP News last year, Ryan’s wife, Emily Borgwardt, filed a petition seeking legal separation. She reportedly described their marriage as “irretrievably broken.” The couple was reportedly married for 22 years.
