Kaitlin Caulfield was just 17, full of promise and dreams, when her life ended in the early hours of a cold February morning in 2013. Found in her bedroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin, she had been strangled, her body left lifeless on her bed. The discovery sent shockwaves through her tight-knit community, where she was known for her bright smile and kind heart. Her family was devastated, grappling with the unimaginable loss of their daughter, sister, and friend.
As police began their investigation, the scene offered few clues. There were no signs of a break-in, suggesting the killer was someone Kaitlin knew someone who had access to her home. The investigation quickly focused on those closest to her, including her boyfriend, Ryan Borgwardt, a 28-year-old man who seemed to be a pillar of support for the family in the immediate aftermath. He joined Kaitlin’s loved ones at a vigil, offering condolences and sharing in their grief. But something about his behavior raised suspicions, and soon, a darker truth began to emerge.
A Forbidden Affair and a Deadly Decision
Ryan Borgwardt wasn’t just Kaitlin’s boyfriend; he was a married man entangled in a secret affair with the teenager. The relationship, hidden from his wife and Kaitlin’s family, had grown complicated. Kaitlin, young and in love, reportedly wanted more from Ryan perhaps a future together. But Ryan, unwilling to leave his marriage or face the consequences of the affair being exposed, made a horrific choice. Investigators believe he strangled Kaitlin to silence her, ensuring his secret would stay buried.
The act was cold and calculated. Ryan slipped into her home in the dead of night, committed the murder, and then blended back into the community as if nothing had happened. He stood by Kaitlin’s family, feigning sorrow, while police pieced together the timeline. What they uncovered was a motive rooted in fear and desperation: Ryan’s affair with Kaitlin threatened to unravel his carefully constructed life, and he chose murder over accountability.
An Elaborate Ruse Unravels
Ryan’s attempt to cover his tracks didn’t end with the murder. In a stunning twist, he orchestrated an elaborate scheme to fake his own death and flee the country. Months after Kaitlin’s murder, Ryan staged a kayaking accident on a Wisconsin lake, leaving behind a capsized boat and personal belongings to suggest he’d drowned. Authorities launched a search, believing he was a victim of a tragic accident. His wife and three children mourned, left to grapple with yet another loss.
But Ryan wasn’t dead he was on the run. He fled to Georgia, the country, not the state, allegedly to start a new life with another woman. For months, he lived under the radar, believing he’d escaped justice. However, his plan began to crumble when investigators grew suspicious of the “accident.” The lack of a body, combined with inconsistencies in the evidence, prompted a deeper look. Then came the slip of the tongue that changed everything.
During a conversation intercepted by authorities, Ryan accidentally revealed details about Kaitlin’s murder that only the killer would know. It was a careless moment, perhaps born of overconfidence, but it was enough to reignite the case. Police connected the dots, linking him not only to the murder but also to the faked death. In 2014, Ryan was tracked down and arrested in Georgia, extradited back to Wisconsin to face charges.
Justice for Kaitlin
The trial that followed was a reckoning. Ryan Borgwardt, now exposed as both a murderer and a fraud, faced justice for Kaitlin’s death. Prosecutors laid out a compelling case, detailing the affair, the motive, and the chilling steps he took to cover his tracks. The slip of the tongue that betrayed him became a centerpiece of the prosecution’s argument, proving he couldn’t outrun his guilt. In 2015, Ryan pleaded no contest to a lesser charge related to his faked death but was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide for Kaitlin’s murder. He was sentenced to life in prison, a small measure of closure for her family.
For Kaitlin’s loved ones, the trial was a painful journey through grief and betrayal. They learned the man they’d trusted to mourn with them was the one who took her life. The community, too, was shaken, grappling with the reality that someone they knew could commit such a heinous act and then deceive everyone so brazenly.
A Lasting Impact and a Call for Awareness
Kaitlin’s story is a stark reminder of the dangers hidden in relationships marked by secrecy and power imbalances. Her youth and trust were exploited by someone who should have protected her, not preyed on her. The case also highlights the lengths to which some will go to avoid accountability, from murder to faking their own death. For her family, the pain of losing Kaitlin is compounded by the betrayal of someone they once welcomed into their lives.
Today, Kaitlin’s memory lives on through those who loved her. Her case has sparked conversations about the risks young people face in relationships with older partners, especially when secrecy is involved. It’s a call to listen, to watch for red flags, and to protect those who might not see the danger until it’s too late. As for Ryan Borgwardt, he remains behind bars, a cautionary tale of how one terrible choice can destroy so many lives.
This tragedy, though years old, still resonates, urging us to honor Kaitlin’s life by advocating for awareness and justice. Her light was extinguished too soon, but her story continues to shine a light on the truth.
