US kayaker sentenced to 89 days in prison for fleeing to Europe via Canada after falsely claiming to be dead

 

 

A US kayaker who fled to Europe via Canada after falsely claiming to be dead has been sentenced to 89 days in prison. Ryan Borgwardi, 45, of Wisconsin, was sentenced. Borgwardi disappeared in August 2024, leaving behind his phone, ID and boat while fishing. Others thought Borgwardi had an accident when his boat capsized. A search was conducted for his body, which was presumed dead, but it was not found.

Later, investigators found that he had fled to Canada and then to Georgia. Officials say he went to Georgia to meet a woman from Uzbekistan he met online.

Green Lake County Circuit Judge Mark Slate sentenced Borgward to 89 days in prison for faking his death. Borgward returned to the U.S. in December. The court also ordered him to pay $30,000 in restitution for the costs of search and rescue teams sent to find Borgward. Borgward told the court before sentencing that he was apologetic for his actions. Borgward, a father of four, was divorced by his wife after the incident.