**Kayaker's Alleged Disappearance Revealed as Elaborate Hoax, Authorities Find**

Authorities in Wisconsin have uncovered startling details about the disappearance of a 45-year-old kayaker, Ryan Borgwardt, who was thought to have vanished while on Green Lake in central Wisconsin. Instead, the evidence points to Borgwardt faking his own disappearance and fleeing the country, as unveiled by Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll in a recent press conference.

Borgwardt had been reported missing on August 12, triggering a large-scale search operation that lasted 54 days. Responders initially found his car and trailer parked near the lake, with his capsized kayak discovered in waters about 220 feet deep. The search operation, led in part by Keith Cormican of the nonprofit group Bruce's Legacy, spanned nearly every inch of the lake's western region by early October.

Despite thorough searches, the tide of the investigation shifted on October 7, when authorities decided to explore new leads. Shortly after, they were informed that Borgwardt's name had been checked by Canadian authorities on August 13. This unexpected development suggested Borgwardt's potential interaction with Canadian law enforcement soon after his presumed disappearance.

Further collaboration with multiple federal and local agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security, and the FBI, unearthed more clues hinting at Borgwardt's orchestrated departure. A forensic analysis of a laptop owned by Borgwardt revealed he had taken extensive steps to erase his digital footprint, including syncing the device's contents to the Cloud, photographing passports, taking out a significant life insurance policy worth $375,000, and transferring funds to a foreign bank. Investigators also noted email communications with a woman in Uzbekistan.

Sheriff Podoll emphasized that the concerted efforts of search teams, particularly the perseverance of Keith Cormican, played a crucial role in pivoting the investigation away from the lake. The new findings conclusively indicated that Borgwardt had not drowned in the lake.

Authorities are now appealing to the public for any information regarding Borgwardt's whereabouts, stressing the need to recuperate the substantial expenses incurred during the search. Sheriff Podoll made a direct plea to Borgwardt, asking him to contact his family, highlighting the emotional toll on his three children, two of whom are in high school and one in seventh grade.

The investigation is ongoing, with potential charges pending upon Borgwardt's discovery.