Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old father of three, voluntarily returned to the United States on Tuesday and was immediately detained at the Green Lake County Jail. The following day, a judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf concerning charges of obstructing an officer’s duties.

The charge of obstruction pertains to the act of “knowingly placing physical evidence with the intent to mislead officers in the performance of their duties,” according to court documents, highlighting the seriousness of his actions.

After his arrest, Borgwardt was released from jail on a $500 signature bond later that afternoon. “We brought a father back on his own accord,” stated Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll during a press conference yesterday, emphasizing the unusual circumstances of the case.

He further noted that Borgwardt had been cooperative with law enforcement, and it is believed that the father-of-three felt compelled to return home due to his family, as reported by Fox11.

According to the criminal complaint shared by the news outlet, Borgwardt confessed to police about his intricate plan to abandon his family, providing details about the final day he executed this scheme.

The possible cause statement from the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office outlines the initial investigation and the missing details that Borgwardt clarified regarding the events that transpired on the night of August 11, shortly after he set out onto Green Lake at approximately 10:30 p.m. in his kayak.

The following day, investigators located the kayak with the life jacket still in place, as per the affidavit. Police reported that during his time on the lake, Borgwardt “threw his mobile phone into the lake,” and he also “had a fishing pole and tackle box containing his identifying documents which he left in the lake as well.”

The fishing pole was retrieved from the lake, while the tackle box containing his identification was discovered washed up on the shore, raising further questions about his intentions.

It later came to light that Borgwardt had brought an inflatable raft, which he utilized to reach the shore. According to the probable cause statement, he then rode an e-bike he had previously stashed on shore to a Greyhound bus station, where he took a bus to Toronto Airport in Canada.

From there, police report that Borgwardt made his way to “Eastern Europe/Western Asia where he took up residency,” further complicating the investigation into his actions.

Upon contacting the police, Borgwardt outlined his detailed escape plan, revealing that he had been monitoring weather reports to determine the optimal time to execute his scheme, indicating that he was aware of the extensive biking journey he needed to undertake and wanted favorable weather conditions.

On the day he faked his death, he recounted waking up early and going to church with his family. After the service, he returned to his workshop to prepare for his escape. During the day, he also returned home to collect a few additional belongings necessary for his elaborate plan.

Borgwardt had purchased the e-bike used for his getaway a few weeks prior and loaded it that day, as stated in the probable cause affidavit. He informed authorities that he backed his trailer all the way to the building to obscure any cameras that might capture him loading the e-bike.

On his route to Canada, Borgwardt described traveling mainly on “back county roads.” According to the affidavit, he exhausted one battery along the way and had to replace it. He also mentioned to police that he “became very cold” during his journey, highlighting the challenges he faced.

When questioned about his attempt to buy a life preserver at Walmart, he explained that he “did not want to die in the lake” and that he could not use the life preserver he brought because it needed to remain on the kayak to make his drowning story more plausible.

He then stated he proceeded to a friend’s house, believing they were not home, to load up on stove pellets. However, he admitted he was taken aback when his friend unexpectedly arrived earlier than anticipated. He quickly closed the trailer to conceal the e-bike before engaging in casual conversation with his friend.

In his statement to police, Borgwardt revealed that he became alarmed upon spotting a squad car as he approached Green Lake at approximately 10 p.m. However, he reasoned it might be investigating the county park, leading him to feel confident that he would be in the clear from that point onward.

While speaking with police, Borgwardt reiterated his concern about needing to create a believable narrative about how he ended up in the middle of the lake, stating that he wanted to ensure everyone, including law enforcement, would believe he had drowned.

He explained that he intended to reach what he believed was the deepest part of the lake, then “threw the phone into the lake,” inflated his raft, boarded it, and flipped the kayak over to support his fabricated story.

Borgwardt mentioned that he ended up in hip-deep muck when attempting to exit the lake near where he had hidden the e-bike, resulting in “muddy footprints.” He stated he washed his pants and shoes off in the water and “tried to scrub the footprints,” but only managed to clean “about two” of them off the roadway, indicating that his plan was not as foolproof as he had hoped.

During his journey to Canada, Borgwardt described traveling primarily on “back county roads.” According to the affidavit, he drained one battery along the route and had to switch them out. He also informed police that he “became very cold” throughout his journey, illustrating the difficulties he faced during his escape.

He told police that he was particularly conscious of the time around 5 a.m. as it was “usually when [his wife] would wake up.” At this point, he admitted feeling anxious because everything was set in motion, and there was no turning back.

Borgwardt abandoned his e-bike at around 9:15 a.m. in a park near a Greyhound Bus Station, according to his statement to the authorities. He then took a bus through Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, and finally to the border crossing leading to the Toronto airport.

At the border, Borgwardt informed customs and border patrol officers about his passport, explaining that he did not have a driver’s license. He believed this would be sufficient, but it turned out not to be the case.

He then stated, “Canadian Border Patrol separated him from the rest of the group and were asking him questions,” with Borgwardt feeling they were “suspicious of him,” which heightened his anxiety during the process.

When questioned about his travel plans in Canada, he stated that he could not provide his itinerary because his phone had been malfunctioning. He had last used it to contact a woman, believed to be his accomplice in this elaborate scheme.

Borgwardt revealed the flight he intended to take and mentioned, “eventually, they allowed him to proceed,” according to the affidavit. He also stated, as per the document, that he had brought only $5,500 in cash with him for this significant journey.

While waiting for his flight, Borgwardt recounted checking the news and seeing reports about a missing kayaker, which reassured him that “his plan had worked,” despite the gravity of the situation.

In his statement to police, Borgwardt indicated that he transferred in Paris to an unspecified Asian country, where upon landing he found the customs process to be “pretty simple.” While there, he contacted the woman again and “waited about an hour for her to come and pick him up,” indicating a pre-planned rendezvous.

Borgwardt reported to police that he and the woman stayed at a hotel for a few days following their meeting. Investigators later discovered that the couple ultimately settled in the country of Georgia, raising further questions about his intentions and future plans.