A Wisconsin man apparently faked his own drowning this summer so he could abandon his family and flee to eastern Europe, investigators say.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podell said in a news release Friday that the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office informed his agency on Aug. 12 that Ryan Borgwardt of Watertown had gone missing after he went kayaking on Green Lake. Borgwardt’s wife said that he texted her at 10:49 p.m. on Aug. 11 saying he was heading to shore.

Authorities in Wisconsin believe a kayaker who was reported missing for months may have staged his disappearance before fleeing to Europe.{ai:summary}<p>A Wisconsin man, Ryan Borgwardt, allegedly staged his own drowning to escape his family and travel to Eastern Europe. Authorities were alerted on August 12 after he went missing while kayaking on Green Lake. His wife received a text from him shortly before he vanished. #crime</p>

Officials suspect Wisconsin kayaker missing for months faked death and moved to Europe

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