In brief
Authorities are in regular contact with Ryan Borgwardt, who faked his own death and fled to Eastern Europe, as he updates them through a recorded message expressing his safety but no intention to return home.
In a bizarre twist, Ryan Borgwardt, a Wisconsin man who faked his death to escape a troubled family life, has emerged online with a video update from Eastern Europe. After disappearing three months ago, Borgwardt reassured authorities he is "safe" in a 24-second clip shared by Green Lake County Sheriff Mark A. Podoll during a recent press conference.In the video, recorded in a minimalist apartment, Borgwardt appears calm, saying, “Today is Nov. 11. It’s approximately 10 a.m. by you guys. I’m in my apartment. I am safe, secure, no problem. I hope this works.” Although investigators have managed to maintain communication with him, his exact location remains unspecified.Sheriff Podoll disclosed that the authorities have been in near-daily contact with Borgwardt, urging him to return to his family, which includes a wife and three children. “We keep pulling at his heartstrings,” Podoll stated, emphasizing their commitment to bringing him back home. However, Borgwardt has not yet expressed a willingness to return, leaving his family and the community in turmoil over his choices. The sheriff remains adamant that efforts to encourage a homecoming will persist, highlighting the importance of family reconciliation.
