Marquise Francis

This was a very meticulously planned out staged death, or so he thought.

This was a very meticulously planned out staged death, or so he thought.

Thank you so much for having me.

Thank you so much for having me.

Yeah, I mean, to say it's crazy, it feels like almost an understatement. He's been married to his wife, Emily, for at least 22 years, and they lived in Watertown, Wisconsin, which is a small town of about 23,000 people. Ryan's wife, Emily, she did say that Ryan was an entrepreneur.

Yeah, I mean, to say it's crazy, it feels like almost an understatement. He's been married to his wife, Emily, for at least 22 years, and they lived in Watertown, Wisconsin, which is a small town of about 23,000 people. Ryan's wife, Emily, she did say that Ryan was an entrepreneur.

So the following day after August 11th, Ryan's wife reported him missing. And the local county sheriff, Mark Pottle, went to the lake and discovered Ryan's car in a trailer missing. Near the lake at a park where people launch their boats from. And then he also discovered a kayak that was overturned in the lake where the depth goes up to 200 feet.

So the following day after August 11th, Ryan's wife reported him missing. And the local county sheriff, Mark Pottle, went to the lake and discovered Ryan's car in a trailer missing. Near the lake at a park where people launch their boats from. And then he also discovered a kayak that was overturned in the lake where the depth goes up to 200 feet.

And so for the next 54 days, there was an all out search for Ryan launched. Locals helped out. Cadaver dogs were brought in. And even divers were sent into the water looking for Ryan or at least clues. Two fishermen found a fishing rod that Ryan's wife confirmed belonged to her husband and a tackle box with Ryan's wallet, license and keys in it. But ultimately, no Ryan after nearly two months.

And so for the next 54 days, there was an all out search for Ryan launched. Locals helped out. Cadaver dogs were brought in. And even divers were sent into the water looking for Ryan or at least clues. Two fishermen found a fishing rod that Ryan's wife confirmed belonged to her husband and a tackle box with Ryan's wallet, license and keys in it. But ultimately, no Ryan after nearly two months.

Right. That local sheriff, and I want to keep saying his name, Mark Pottle, he was not playing around. He was not willing to give up on this case. After hitting so many dead ends, the sheriff widened his search. And so he learned from Canadian authorities that Ryan had used his passport the day after he was reported missing.

Right. That local sheriff, and I want to keep saying his name, Mark Pottle, he was not playing around. He was not willing to give up on this case. After hitting so many dead ends, the sheriff widened his search. And so he learned from Canadian authorities that Ryan had used his passport the day after he was reported missing.

Like, did he call an Uber? The local sheriff's department said on August 11th at 10 p.m., Ryan drove to that lake. He capsized his kayak. He dropped his phone in the water. And then he got back to shore in this, like, inflatable child-sized boat. He then hopped on an e-bike that he'd stashed somewhere nearby and then drove that e-bike 70 miles through the night to Madison, Wisconsin.

Like, did he call an Uber? The local sheriff's department said on August 11th at 10 p.m., Ryan drove to that lake. He capsized his kayak. He dropped his phone in the water. And then he got back to shore in this, like, inflatable child-sized boat. He then hopped on an e-bike that he'd stashed somewhere nearby and then drove that e-bike 70 miles through the night to Madison, Wisconsin.

Yes, he was dedicated. And then he took a bus from Madison to Detroit. And somehow from there, he crossed over into Canada. So this was a very, dare I say, meticulously planned out stage death, or so he thought. Ultimately, Ryan left his laptop behind and a digital forensic analyst was able to search the laptop and find that Ryan had replaced the hard drive and cleared his browser history.

Yes, he was dedicated. And then he took a bus from Madison to Detroit. And somehow from there, he crossed over into Canada. So this was a very, dare I say, meticulously planned out stage death, or so he thought. Ultimately, Ryan left his laptop behind and a digital forensic analyst was able to search the laptop and find that Ryan had replaced the hard drive and cleared his browser history.

And then earlier that year in January, He took out a $375,000 life insurance policy out on himself. He also had opened up a foreign bank account and moved money there. And then police found out he'd been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan for months.

And then earlier that year in January, He took out a $375,000 life insurance policy out on himself. He also had opened up a foreign bank account and moved money there. And then police found out he'd been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan for months.

Once police started putting these details together, it started to create a story that went from a disappearance to now a faked death situation.

Once police started putting these details together, it started to create a story that went from a disappearance to now a faked death situation.