Contrary to the popular belief that “you can run but you cannot hide” in today’s high-tech, electronic, eyes-everywhere, cyber world . . . it seems that an ordinary guy named Ryan Borgwardt has shown the world that indeed you can. And to prove it, he just blew his own cover.

On August 12th of this year, Borgwardt, age 44, vanished while on a solo fishing trip not far from his home in Watertown, Wisconsin. The Green Lake County authorities assumed he had drowned, and searched the lake for 54 days before receiving a 24-second selfie video showing him in an apartment with plain white walls, in which he says:

“Good evening, it’s Ryan Borgwardt. Today is 11 November. It’s approximately 10 am by you guys. I’m in my apartment. I am safe, secure, no problem. I hope this works.” [Max Matza, BBC News, November 21, 2024.]

The whole scenario had been faked.

Since then, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll has been in touch with Mr. Borgwardt, according to a statement given by the Sheriff at a press conference on Thursday:

“The great news is he’s still alive and well. The bad news is that we don’t know where exactly Ryan is, and he has not decided to return home.” [Id.]

Sheriff Podoll advised that he had made contact with Mr. Borgwardt through an unidentified Russian-speaking woman. He also said that Borgwardt owes Green Lake County $40,000 for the cost of their search, and could be charged with obstructing the investigation of his disappearance. [Id.]

A further report now indicates that the elusive Mr. Borgwardt may be somewhere in Eastern Europe, though it is still not known exactly where. But during the seven-week search, evidence turned up indicating he had fled to Europe by way of Canada. Borgwardt’s story — not yet verified — is that, leaving an electric bike near the lake’s boat launch, he paddled onto the lake in a kayak, taking a small inflatable boat with him. He overturned the kayak, dropped his phone into the lake, and returned to shore in the inflatable boat. He then rode the bike overnight to Madison, about 80 miles away, where he boarded a bus to Detroit. From there he crossed into Canada to board a flight to Europe. [Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, November 22, 2024.]

This was no spur-of-the-moment decision. Prior to his “fishing trip,” he had transferred funds to a foreign bank account, changed his email, and communicated with a woman in — of all places — Uzbekistan. It is not clear whether she is the same woman who helped him contact the authorities, or what her role is in his little adventure. [Id.]

He also took out a $375,000 life insurance policy last January for the benefit of his wife and three children . . . though I have to wonder whether he gave any thought to the fact that, when his body didn’t turn up, his family would have to wait seven years before they could have him declared legally dead and collect the proceeds.

Not smart, Ryan. But smart enough to prove that you can, after all, hide. For a while, anyway.

*. *. *

There are obviously a lot of unanswered questions here, not the least of which is “Why?” Was he just tired of his marriage? His job? Being a father? All of it? Who is the mysterious Russian-speaking woman?

Does he have some sort of political statement to make?

Where is he? In Uzbekistan? Or any country with whom the U.S. has an extradition treaty?

Is he planning on paying back the $40,000 to Green Lake County? And if so, how? Is he hoping to sell the movie rights to his story?

If so, I see Tom Hanks in the role of Ryan Borgwardt. He’s been stranded on an island, holed up in an airport, and battered by a hurricane on a shrimping boat. Why not Uzbekistan?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/24/24