Man accused of faking his death may have been spotted in TikTok video

GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WBAY) - A TikTok video that features a man who resembles a person accused of faking his own death in Green Lake County recently went viral.

Authorities Friday announced Ryan Borgwardt was missing in August after not coming home from a kayaking trip might not have been missing after all

It's been a rollercoaster for Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll after announcing Friday that a "missing kayaker" was never missing at all.

The twist in the investigation is receiving national attention. "You know we're a small department. They say that things don't happen in Green Lake County, but they do Sheriff Podoll. "Never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever have anything like this."

During a Friday news conference, the sheriff's office revealed 45-year-old Ryan Borgwardt faked his own death.

Authorities say a digital forensic analysis shows Borgwardt planned his disappearance to Europe and attempted to conceal those efforts including being in contact with a woman from Uzbekistan.

Since Friday, numerous tips have come in about Ryan's possible whereabouts, including a TikTok video shot in June by a content creator in San Diego.

This video was recorded at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. Content creator Baylee Boomhower is seen in the video holding up a sign asking if anyone wanted free advice when a man on a bicycle came up to her asking this question: "Should I go to Uzbekistan or stay here?"

When asked why, the man said: "To meet a woman."

He also acknowledges in the video that he's married.

The video that now has nearly 4 and a half million views shows similar facial features to Ryan Borgwardt. In an interview with Action 2 News on the phone, Boomhower describes the interaction as bizarre.

She says the similarities between Borgwardt's story and the person she spoke with in California raise questions.

"When I first heard that from the original video, I was just, I had never even heard of that place before so it was just a very like odd parallel that the man that's missing is also connected to Uzbekistan," said Boomhower.

Boomhower informed law enforcement of its existence. "Anything that we can get, we certainly go through it and see if it will help us out but anyone with any information please come forward," said Sheriff Podoll.

The sheriff's office says on its Facebook page they believe the person in the video is not Borgwardt but when asked in person on Wednesday, they say they have to investigate it further.

The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the FBI are working with the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office as well.

In a statement sent to Action 2 News by Caroline Clancy, Public Affairs Officer for the FBI Milwaukee, wrote quote, "The FBI Milwaukee is assisting with the investigation of Ryan Borgwardt in Green Lake County. The FBI routinely offers assistance to our law enforcement partners, to provide additional manpower and specialized resources. For details about the investigation, please contact the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office, which is the lead investigative agency. The FBI values strong collaboration with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners across Wisconsin."