Found Alive WI - Ryan Borgwardt, 45, Green Lake, 11 Aug 2024 *evidence that he faked his death and is alive in Eastern Europe*

[otto]

The TESOL thingy I saw on that FB group is a master's degree for English language teachers from other countries that wish to quality to teach EFL abroad; this is where I noticed several students from that country (most of them Uzbek women) did that qualification in Toronto.

I think you are spot on, Otto, on your ideas on how they met. It sounds very plausible!
Do you think he travelled straight into Uzbekistan or before reaching Central Asia he did a stopover somewhere in Eastern Europe? I just think that he had flown straight into Uzbekistan, US authorities would have already identified which flight he was in.

I think investigators know his travel route to Uzbekistan, but after landing - poof. They don't know what happened to him. Is he playing house with an irresistible woman from Uzbekistan, or he lying in a ditch. I think that's the question that the family wants answered - confirmation of life.

 

[Inthedetails]

The TESOL thingy I saw on that FB group is a master's degree for English language teachers from other countries that wish to quality to teach EFL abroad; this is where I noticed several students from that country (most of them Uzbek women) did that qualification in Toronto.

I think you are spot on, Otto, on your ideas on how they met. It sounds very plausible!
Do you think he travelled straight into Uzbekistan or before reaching Central Asia he did a stopover somewhere in Eastern Europe? I just think that he had flown straight into Uzbekistan, US authorities would have already identified which flight he was in.

I don't think he met her in Toronto. Could have happened, I suppose, but why would he be in Toronto?

I suspect it was an online meeting.

jmopinion

 

[otto]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>


The insurance policy seems more like his apology to his wife, and a dare as to whether she will get the death certificate and file the claim. Upthread, we read that investigators knew early on that his "death" was a scam. They told his wife, and asked her to keep quiet - even from family. She did.

Meanwhile ... the investigation continued. I'm curious whether the only reason that this has become public is because investigators want proof of life. They can't find him.

His family wants him to know that they miss him, they love him, and he is welcome home at any time. The gig is up. He got caught falsifying a kayak drowning. There are no charges at this time.

If he is a decent man, he'll step out, tell his family and investigators that he is okay, and it's all over except the bill (S&R cost). If he's a decent man and doesn't step forward, chances are he's unable. Proof of life is needed.

 

[adot0902]

Insurance companies don’t play, they are seriously good at what they do. For example they have saved multiple of my clients lives, by applying for life insurance you get a medical screening and underwriters review your records if you get denied get to the doctor it means something is wrong, most have been prostate cancer in stage 1, but they know when you are going to die, and if you don’t die when they think you should be prepared for phone calls, in person visits, investigations, it’s not easy to fool life insurance companies and it always bites people in the butt.

Criminal pro tip avoid life insurance. It’s not worth it, you will get caught.

 

[Snoopster]

I think investigators know his travel route to Uzbekistan, but after landing - poof. They don't know what happened to him. Is he playing house with an irresistible woman from Uzbekistan, or he lying in a ditch. I think that's the question that the family wants answered - confirmation of life.

The insurance policy seems more like his apology to his wife, and a dare as to whether she will get the death certificate and file the claim. Upthread, we read that investigators knew early on that his "death" was a scam. They told his wife, and asked her to keep quiet - even from family. She did.

Meanwhile ... the investigation continued. I'm curious whether the only reason that this has become public is because investigators want proof of life. They can't find him.

His family wants him to know that they miss him, they love him, and he is welcome home at any time. The gig is up. He got caught falsifying a kayak drowning. There are no charges at this time.

If he is a decent man, he'll step out, tell his family and investigators that he is okay, and it's all over except the bill (S&R cost). If he's a decent man and doesn't step forward, chances are he's unable. Proof of life is needed.

I think this makes sense.

I'm not sure that his family wants him back. They might, particularly if Ryan was struggling with some mental health issues before he took off. Or, they might not, and it is simply a way to encourage Ryan to come forward and prove he is alive.
In any case, Ryan, if you are reading here please reach out to someone. It's time to be strong. Show your kids that you care about them. They want to know if you are alive or not.

 

[cujenn81]

While it is really awesome to see that local Law enforcement actually followed through to an investigation -instead of just writing it off as a drowning or walked away. I am curious about how the FBI and Homeland Security got involved in a missing adult person case when it doesn’t appear a particular crime was actually committed

Lying on a passport application is most certainly a federal crime. It’s passport fraud and could potentially affect not only our national security but also the security of any country that grants entrance to US citizens. Those agencies don’t know if he committed fraud simply because he wanted to start a new life or if he had more nefarious and criminal motives. Not until they investigate. TBH, we don’t really have a clue either.

 

[VivianV]

This is Ryan in better days - talking about his business.

 

[dulcinea]

This is speculation based on what I've read here, but my impression is that he met a woman online who is beautiful, young and sexy. They probably exchanged personal info, and continued with private conversations. She would tell him that she needs money for any number of reasons, and eventually he would believe that he's in a romantic relationship with her. Next step is to rescue her, she needs money. For some reason, he decided to join her (whether she's legit or not). Most just lose their life savings.

What he did was transferred whatever spare cash he had to private accounts with a new email address. Maybe she told him that she had to buy her way out of the escort business - it could be any number of scenarios that gave him the impression that he was saving her.

Going to Canada to fly to Europe was probably his idea of hiding his travel history. He didn't expect his passport to be registered entering or leaving Canada, but it would be automatically flagged leaving Canada on an international flight.

I think that TESOL courses in Toronto would be for new immigrants who need English language training for local job placement.

Flight travel should be easy to trace. After landing - he seems to have vanished. I wonder whether he is alive and whether his new bank accounts are emptied.

TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It's usually a post BA/BS degree to teach English. It is not course or program one would study to learn English.

 

[Snoopster]

I have two questions and I am fully aware these are going to sound dumb but please, bear with me...I have never set foot in either the US or Canada, so unfamiliar with these things.

1/Regarding the life insurance policy worth $375,000. Is that the usual amount people there sign a life insurance policy for? Is it too low, too high? any red flags or anything unusual in that figure?

2/I was curious as to whether there were many Uzbek communities in the US and/or Canada and I noticed on a FB group for language teachers from that country that quite a few of them live in Toronto. It seems one of the local universities runs a MA in TESOL that is very popular with international students. Any chance Ryan met this woman in person in either Wisconsin or Canada and for some reason (e.g. work/student visa coming to an end) she had to return home? All speculation, of course. Just trying to figure out how these two met, whether online or through in-person events.

Just to clarify to those that aren't aware, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario is a 7.5 hour drive from Toronto. While they are in the same province, Ontario is HUGE. Having said that, Ryan would likely have had to drive to Toronto for a trans-Atlantic flight.
I think he was just trying to avoid being identified leaving from a US airport. I don't think he was meeting a Uzbeki in Toronto.

ETA: typo

 

[PommyMommy]

This is Ryan in better days - talking about his business.

Thank you! Now that sounds like someone from Wisconsin.

 

[otto]

Just to clarify to those that aren't aware, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario is a 7.5 hour drive from Toronto. While they are in the same province, Ontario is HUGE. Having said that, Ryan would likely have had to drive to Toronto for a trans-Atlantic flight.
I think he was just trying to avoid being identified leaving from a US airport. I don't think he was meeting a Uzbeki in Toronto.

ETA: typo

He could enter Canada with a driver's licence, and hope that he was waved through the border, thus eliminating a record of entering the country.

I agree that he travelled to Europe via Canada because he expected border security to be sloppy. He thought that buying a plane ticket gift card, and traveling though international borders, that he would not create a paper trail in Canada ... OR, alternatively, that it would give him enough of a head start.

Entering Canada - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

 

[PommyMommy]

He could enter Canada with a driver's licence, and hope that he was waved through the border, thus eliminating a record of entering the country.

I agree that he travelled to Europe via Canada because he expected border security to be sloppy. He thought that buying a plane ticket gift card, and traveling though international borders, that he would not create a paper trail in Canada ... OR, alternatively, that it would give him enough of a head start.
View attachment 545023

Entering Canada - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

His license was found along with his keys, fishing pole, kayak, etc. Although I suppose he could've had another license, like he did a passport...? MOO

Missing father faked death, left country to meet with another woman: Wisconsin sheriff

A dramatic twist was revealed in the search for a missing kayaker in Wisconsin.

abc30.com

Crews recovered his capsized kayak, his car, a fishing pole, wallet, keys and his license.

 

[priyaya]

This is entirely speculation. Is it possible that the reason for so much agency involvement is that the family was actually aware in advance and faking his death was done purposefully, with his wife’s knowledge, to get an insurance payout and so he could leave rather than divorce? Pitched by him as a win-win for everyone.

Just my thoughts.

I wonder about this too, but they said she was made aware of the shift in investigation. I assume because they also suspected her compliance.
She was the last contact
Or her name was the beneficiary
Whatever the case it seems she's been cleared
I do agree that she may be putting on a good face to lure him back or at least some communication with the kids.
I hope she's already putting the divorce paperwork in order... can she get a divorce even if he's MIA?

 

[priyaya]

He could enter Canada with a driver's licence, and hope that he was waved through the border, thus eliminating a record of entering the country.

I agree that he travelled to Europe via Canada because he expected border security to be sloppy. He thought that buying a plane ticket gift card, and traveling though international borders, that he would not create a paper trail in Canada ... OR, alternatively, that it would give him enough of a head start.
View attachment 545023

Entering Canada - Travel.gc.ca

Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

travel.gc.ca

I just entered Canada last week from driving in the US.
You get scanned one way or another, as the enhanced IDs are federally linked as well in same system.
He got a 2nd passport for a reason and left the liscense for a reason. Could have had another but honestly think he had help to get to the border

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

The Tik Tok video is off limits for linking and discussion.

from: Green Lake missing kayaker; sheriff gives update on case

Green Lake missing kayaker; sheriff gives update on case​

By Ashley Sears
Published November 13, 2024 9:31pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX6 News Milwaukee

[...]

The sheriff's office said they've got about a dozen tips related to this case, including one involving a TikTok video with a man who looks like Borgwardt saying he's going to Uzbekistan.

The sheriff said investigators reviewed the social media video and concluded it is not him. They are in touch with the creator of the video.

[...]

 

[Sillybilly]

I just entered Canada last week from driving in the US.
You get scanned one way or another, as the enhanced IDs are federally linked as well in same system.
He got a 2nd passport for a reason and left the liscense for a reason. Could have had another but honestly think he had help to get to the border

US citizens can walk across the border into Canada with just a valid US passport.

from: Canada International Travel Information.

Entry into Canada: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens.

With the length of time in the works and somewhat detailed planning, I do think it's possible he had help, and IMO that help may well be in the form of an organized international scam.

 

[truthfinder2019]

The worst in these scams by organized crime is that when such women exist on the other end of the line, they re often themselves victims of s** trafficking

If it is the case, and I agree with SillyBilly, he is in great danger

 

[acehard]

Did they find him or is he still missing?

 

[priyaya]

After landing - he seems to have vanished

This is the part that wasnt making sense to me either. They know where he went, but they arent releasing that information. There is no way they didn't know his flight with the gift card and passport

 

[Inthedetails]

This is the part that wasnt making sense to me either. They know where he went, but they arent releasing that information. There is no way they didn't know his flight with the gift card and passport

I think he might be in a country where USA doesn't have extradition and/or strong relationship with the officials?? Just a guess. I am thinking USA LE is trying to make it emotionally easy for the man to come home on his own, coaxing him to safety.

Total speculation. I have no idea what is actually happening.

jmo

Edited to add: And when he is safe, they can get more info about the catfish scammer(s)....IF that is what is going on.