Sheriff Mark Podoll stood in front of the cameras and pleaded with her husband and father, Ryan Borgwardt, to contact his family. Months ago, authorities conducted an extensive search and rescue effort for Borgwardt.

Authorities and family believe the Wisconsin resident has been missing since Aug. 12 after kayaking on Green Lake.

during November 8 press conferencePodoll revealed that the evidence showed Borgwardt was alive, had likely faked his death, and was potentially in Europe.

“We know he’s not in our lake,” Podoll said, referring to Green Lake, where Borgwardt’s empty canoe was found adrift in August; This sparked fears that he had drowned and triggered a lengthy search effort that included dog searches and divers. Now the authorities have changed their focus.

This change in the investigation raised new questions about who Ryan Borgwardt was and what might have led his family to believe he was dead.

Who is Ryan Borgwardt?

Ryan Borgwardt is a Watertown, Wisconsin resident who was believed to have gone missing on August 12, 2024, when he did not return from a canoe trip on Green Lake.

According to Podell, he is married and the father of high school and elementary school aged children.

When did Ryan Borgwardt disappear?

Borgwardt was last seen the night of Aug. 12, the sheriff said at the press conference. Podell said deputies responded to a missing person call around 5:32 p.m. local time, and Borgwardt’s car and trailer were found in the area of ​​Dodge Memorial Park.

The sheriff’s office identified Borgwardt’s last known location as Green Lake, Podoll said.

“Deputies went in that direction, checked the areas around the lake and found Ryan’s vehicle with its trailer parked in the area of ​​Dodge Memorial Park,” Podoll explained.

Podoll said Borgwardt’s capsized canoe was first found in the western part of the lake, and the next day his fishing rod and tackle box were found, as well as his wallet, keys and license.

Three cadaver dogs and a dive team were also brought in to assist in the search on August 24. After almost eight weeks of searching, they still couldn’t find him, Podoll said.

What do authorities think happened to Ryan Borgwardt?

Authorities say evidence suggests Borgwardt may have faked his own disappearance and left the country for Europe.

Podell said they learned on Oct. 7 that Borgwardt’s passport had been “activated” on Aug. 13, the day after she went missing. As they continued their investigation, detectives discovered that law enforcement in Canada was running his name and Borgwardt had obtained a new passport, Green Lake County authorities said. NBC News.

Investigators later performed a digital forensic analysis of the laptop Borgwardt’s wife gave them and concluded that it “was somewhere in Europe.” Podell claimed that he replaced the laptop’s hard drive and cleaned the scanner the day Borgwardt disappeared.

“We learned that he transferred his funds to a foreign bank, changed his email address and communications with a woman from Uzbekistan,” Podoll said, noting that Borgwardt took out a $375,000 life insurance policy and purchased airline cards in January. “Due to the discovery of new evidence, we were confident that Ryan was not in our lake.”

“We’re in a really good position because everything we’ve found, we know it’s out there somewhere,” Podoll continued. “All we want to know is that he’s safe.”

What’s next?

Authorities continue their investigation into Borgwardt and are focusing their efforts on gathering more information about his motive and whereabouts.

The sheriff also encourages anyone with information to come forward. Podoll said it was too early to determine any charges Borgwardt might face.

Borgwardt’s wife, Emily Borgwardt, told NBC News via text: “I cannot make any comments at this time as it is still an active investigation.”

The investigation continues to involve multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, and authorities are trying to locate Borgwardt and resolve possible legal violations.

“Our goal is to identify the crimes committed by the people who assisted in this crime,” Podoll said.

Authorities remain hopeful that Borgwardt will contact them. During the conference, Podoll urged him to contact his family or the authorities.

“There’s one last thing I want to do, and it’s for Ryan. Ryan, if you see this, I urge you to contact us or your family. “We are aware that some things can happen, but there is a family that wants their father back.”

This article was first published on: TODAY.com