Ryan Borgwardt Sentenced

RIPON, Wis (WRPN/WAUH) – A 45-year-old Appleton man, who faked his death by capsizing a kayak on Big Green Lake a year ago, has been sentenced to 89 days in jail.

During a hearing in Green Lake County Court Tuesday, Aug. 26, Ryan Borgwardt entered a “no contest” plea to a charge of obstructing an officer. Judge Mark Slate sentenced the former Watertown man to nearly twice as much jail time as the plea agreement recommended. The judge felt Borgwardt should serve the same amount of time he was considered dead.

Last week, Borgwardt paid $30,000 in restitution. It will be split between the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office and DNR for the 58 days they searched the lake for him.

There were no victims in the courtroom to make statements. District Attorney Gerise Laspisa spoke on their behalf.

She said, “His entire plan to fake his death to devastate his family in order to serve his own selfish desire hinged on him dying in the lake and selling his death to the world.” She said he didn’t count on the determination and dedication of local law enforcement.

Borgwardt met a woman from Eastern Europe online and, after faking his death, moved to the country of Georgia where he got a job and an apartment.

In a series of emails last November, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office convinced him to move back to the U.S. He gave himself up last December.

Borgwardt gave a brief statement during the sentencing saying, “I deeply regret the actions I did that night and all the pain I caused my family, friends.”

After the hearing, reporters were waiting outside the courtroom hoping to get a statement from Borgwardt or his lawyer. As they chased them down the hallway one reporter shouted out a question a lot of people have been asking, “Why did you do it, Ryan?”