Wisconsin Man Fakes Death, Flees to Europe

Ryan Borgwardt, a 45-year-old father from Wisconsin, has been in contact with authorities after faking his own death during a kayaking trip in August. He disappeared after capsizing his kayak and is believed to have fled to Eastern Europe, where he has been communicating with law enforcement since November 11. Borgwardt explained his escape plan, which involved discarding his phone, paddling to shore in an inflatable boat, and traveling from Wisconsin to Canada before boarding a flight to Europe. Despite confirming his safety through a video, he has not revealed his exact location or indicated plans to return home, although authorities are urging him to reunite with his family for the holidays. Investigators suspect he may have staged his death to meet a woman from Uzbekistan, with whom he had been in contact. While he could face charges for obstructing the investigation, no formal charges have been filed yet.