Ryan BorgwardtThe Wisconsin man who authorities believe faked his death in a staged kayaking accident is alive, authorities have confirmed.

Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a press conference Thursday, Nov. 21, that his office contacted Borgwardt through a Russian-speaking woman on Nov. 11. Authorities do not know where the missing father of three is, but said he is safe and somewhere abroad.

Borgwardt sent a video to deputies from his apartment, saying it was “November 11th” and that he was in his apartment and was “safe, secure, no problem.”

Podoll says they still haven’t been able to pinpoint Borgwardt’s location, but that he is believed to be in Eastern Europe. The sheriff said the man’s family wanted him to come home, noting that “Christmas is coming.”

Authorities previously said Borgwardt was reported missing in August, when his family last heard from him. A search of Green Lake resulted in an overturned kayak, Borgwardt’s fishing rod and tackle box in the lake. The box contained his license.

But after more than 54 days, Borgwardt’s body was never found. Searches involved both authorities and volunteers, all of which failed to find the missing father.

The search changed direction when, in October, police learned that Borgwardt’s name had been checked by Canadian authorities the day after he disappeared.

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Police then searched his laptop and found it had allegedly replaced the hard drive and deleted his internet history on the day he went missing. Authorities later found that Borgwardt allegedly took photos of his passport, moved money to a foreign bank account, changed his email address and was in communication with a woman in Uzbekistan.

Podoll says his office has been in constant contact with Borgwardt, who he says is concerned about how he might be received if he returns home.

“We keep pulling at his heartstrings,” says Podoll. “We will not give up. We want to continue because he has to come home to his children.”