Wisconsin authorities believe a kayaker who went missing over the summer and was thought to be dead is actually alive and living in Europe.

The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office shared the dramatic twist in the search for Ryan Borgwardt, 45, of Watertown, during a news conference Friday.

“We don’t know where he is, but he’s not in our lake,” Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said.

The investigation into Borgwardt’s disappearance in Green Lake involved U.S. Customs, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

After weeks of fruitless searches in the lake, authorities said they determined he had a second passport, inquired about transferring funds to foreign banks, purchased airline gift cards, signed up a $375,000 life insurance policy and was communicating with a female executive in Uzbekistan. make them believe that he faked his disappearance.

Sheriff: A missing kayaker faked a disappearance

The sheriff’s office said Borgwardt, a married father of two, replaced his laptop’s hard drive and wiped browsers the day he disappeared, Aug. 12.

Podoll said the search for Borgwardt and the latest developments have been difficult for his family.

The news was also difficult for research groups, like Bruce’s Legacy, to hear. The group is a nonprofit organization founded by Keith Cormican that specializes in water research.

“It’s a little hard to swallow because it required a lot of expense,” Cormican said.

He said speculation began when the search began.

“I’ve never done this much research, this area, this much depth, and not come up with something,” Cormican said.

Cormican spent 23 days on the water, almost half the time Borgwardt was missing. He was there when the Borgwardt family discovered the new developments.

“They were very shocked, as you can imagine, it’s very heartbreaking for the family,” Cormican said.

The Green Lake Sheriff’s Office will now work to identify all crimes committed and anyone who contributed to these crimes. The sheriff said he will also seek reimbursement for taxpayer-funded search expenses.

This story was originally published by Mike Beiermeister on Scripps News Milwaukee.