A Father's Faked Demise Leads to Jail Time
A father from Wisconsin, known for pulling off an elaborate hoax of his own death, has been handed down a sentence to serve 89 days in prison. Interestingly, the number of days is exactly equal to the period he was untraceable, according to the decision made by the judge.
The man, a 45-year-old named Ryan, was seen in the courtroom this week pleading no contest to the minor offense of obstructing an officer and consequently receiving his due punishment.
The Sentence: Reflecting the Length of the Deception
Despite both the prosecution and defense suggesting a sentence of 45 days behind bars, the judge opted for a longer duration. The final decision was to incarcerate Ryan for 89 days, which is the same amount of time he had successfully deceived everyone about his whereabouts. This decision was made even though the maximum penalty for the crime he committed is a nine-month jail term.
During the court proceedings, Ryan expressed significant remorse for his actions. "I deeply regret the actions that I did that night and all the pain that I caused my family and friends," he stated. His defense attorney further emphasized that Ryan was present in court to take responsibility for his actions.
The Deception: From a Drowning Hoax to a New Life Abroad
Ryan was charged with intentionally leading authorities to believe that he had drowned. It was revealed that he had done extensive research on how to successfully vanish without leaving traces. He had chosen a local lake, known for its great depth, under the belief that a body, if presumed drowned, would not surface.
After successfully staging his death, Ryan ventured to the nation of Georgia and started a new life with a woman he had met on the internet.
The Plot Unravels: Suspicious Behavior and Discovery
The series of events leading to his disappearance started with a text message to his wife. He informed her that he was about to return to shore while kayaking on the lake. However, he never arrived home. This led to a search operation where authorities found his overturned kayak and life jacket, but there was no sign of Ryan.
For weeks, local authorities and volunteers tirelessly searched the lake for him, but to no avail. Then, two months later, investigators discovered that Ryan's name had been acknowledged by law enforcement in Canada just two days following his supposed disappearance. They also found out that he had been in contact with a woman from Uzbekistan.
Further investigation revealed more suspicious activities leading up to his disappearance. These included clearing his internet browser history on the day he vanished, inquiries about transferring funds to overseas banks, acquiring a new passport, and even taking out a new life insurance policy.
These findings, combined with his sudden disappearance, led to the unraveling of Ryan's elaborate deception and his subsequent capture and sentencing.