Wisconsin kayaker charged with obstruction after fleeing country, accused of faking own death.

A Wisconsin man who pretended to drown and then fled to Eastern Europe was charged with obstructing the search for him.

Ryan Borgwardt surrendered to the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin on Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea in a hearing the next day for the misdemeanor charge. The sheriff stated that Borgwardt returned to the U.S. on his own.

He was granted bail of $500 and informed the judge of his intention to defend himself.

He was also ordered to surrender his passport, according to FOX 6.

In August, Borgwardt, who was reported missing, allegedly told investigators he had been researching how to fake one's own death, including the depth required to prevent resurfacing.

On Aug. 11, Borgwardt reportedly drove to Green Lake, a 50-mile distance from his home, due to it being the deepest lake in Wisconsin. He then paddled to the center of the lake in his kayak and flipped it over, according to authorities.

He returned to shore in an inflatable raft, but accidentally dropped his cellphone and ID in the lake.

Borgwardt allegedly hid a bike and rode off on it after washing away his muddy footprints.

He rode for 70 miles before catching a bus from Madison, Wisconsin, to Toronto, Canada, but he barely made it across the border because he didn't have his driver's license.

He traveled from Paris to an unnamed Asian country and then to Georgia.

According to FOX 6, the search for Green Lake by authorities took over a month and amounted to approximately $40,000.

At his home in Wisconsin, incriminating information, including a photo of a woman he met in an unnamed Asian country, was discovered on his laptop by investigators.

In January, he obtained a $375,000 life insurance policy, which he claimed was intended for his family.

Borgwardt allegedly confessed to leaving too much information on the laptop, but claimed he had to leave it behind to make his disappearance appear authentic.

According to FOX 6, investigators stated that on the day of his disappearance, he cleared his browser history, changed his banking information, and obtained a second passport.

Through a Russian-speaking woman, investigators eventually contacted Borgwardt, and he sent a video message to U.S. authorities saying, "Good evening, it's Ryan Borgwardt. Safe, secure, no problem."

He told investigators he knew he would eventually be found.

The reason behind the husband and father of three's alleged staged death remains unknown as investigators have not disclosed a motive.

Sheriff Mark Podoll stated that he would decide whether to disclose the reason for his departure at a later time. "We will not disclose that information. ... We were able to bring a father back home."