Dad who 'faked his own death' comes out of hiding but refuses to say where he is

A dad who ‘faked his own death’ has come out of hiding but there’s one big catch. He’s refused to say where he actually is.

Ryan Bogwardt disappeared in the summer while taking a solo kayaking trip at Green Lake, Wisconsin, US.

The 45-year-old was last seen in the area on 12 August but a search soon launched when his capsized kayak and life jacket were found.

Divers, drones, sonar and specialist dogs were used in a huge rescue operation to find the dad-of-three but suspicions soon arose.

It was found that just a day after he ‘vanished’, his name had been checked by police in Canada.

Yep, authorities believe Bogwardt faked his own death and fled the country.

His family apparently haven't heard from him since August. (Facebook)

Analysis of a laptop exposed a digital trail the husband had left behind, showing he had planned to get off to Europe and tried to mislead investigators, according to AP.

And now, over three months later, authorities reckon they’ve tracked the mysterious man down. But again, the big problem is they still don’t know exactly where is, according to the local sheriff.

Authorities worked to track Bogwardt down and managed to make contact with a woman who speaks Russian.

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Green Lake County Sherriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference yesterday (21 November): “On Nov. 11, we got in contact with Ryan through her. That was a big turning point.”

He also added that officers tried to keep ‘pulling at his heartstrings’ to get him to return to the US. "Christmas is coming," the sheriff said, "what better gift could your kids get than to be there for Christmas?"

When authorities got to speak to him, they asked him to film himself and answer questions that would prove his identify.

In return, they received a selfie-style video saying he was safe and looking as though he was in an apartment. Take a look:

Podoll added: “The great news is we know that he is alive and well.

“The bad news is we don’t know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not yet decided to return home.”

Authorities think he may be in Eastern Europe and said he doesn’t appear to be in any danger.

"We do not know where Ryan exactly is," the sheriff said. "He has not yet decided to return home."

He's speaking to authorities but not his family apparently. (Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office)

While they have had ‘nearly daily communications’ with Bogwardt, he has not spoken to his wife or kids.

It's speculated by officers that he may have faked his death to meet up with a woman he had been in contact with in Uzbekistan, according to AP.

The sheriff said the dad could potentially face an obstruction charge, with the county seeking around $35,000 to $40,000 for restitution.