When John Darwin vanished off the British coast, the world believed he had drowned. But his faked death sparked a scandal that exposed deep deception, insurance fraud, and international travel under stolen identities. Decades later, a similar scheme played out in Wisconsin, involving Ryan Borgwardts. In this episode, we unravel the secrets behind two shocking cases of fake deaths and real betrayals.

SOURCES:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSISObvwgOg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jnky0mCug

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/us/wisconsin-kayaker-ryan-borgwardt-custody

https://fox11online.com/news/local/man-accused-of-faking-his-own-death-to-face-another-status-conference-ryan-borgwardt-green-lake-county-kayak-europe-charges-obstruction-restitution-search-missing

https://apnews.com/article/kayaker-wisconsin-faked-death-borgwardt-marriage-87b937bb47d07dc83958541070f73f55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Darwin_disappearance_case

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/15/john-darwin-the-thief-his-wife-and-the-canoe-insurance-scam-itv-drama

In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we examine the murder of Mississippi businessman Kirby Carpenter, whose success in gold and silver trading may have made him a target. After his body was found outside his home in 2022, police eventually charged his girlfriend Caitlin Spence and her parents with murder and conspiracy. We explore the twisted family dynamics, the missing precious metals, and new 2025 updates—including Caitlin’s plea deal and testimony against her parents.

SOURCES:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPz1f5vj_eRWCjIBE-Cqdf3OrO9zUPuj&si=ET_ongk002g07cBN

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hnem77Jvx/

https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2024/04/19/three-former-area-residents-indicted-in-murder-of-mississippi-businessman-kirby-carpenter-144924/

https://www.explorevenango.com/crime/2024/07/23/court-denies-bail-for-three-suspects-in-kirby-carpenter-murder-case-592864/

https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2025/04/18/caitlin-spence-pleads-guilty-to-accessory-charge-in-carpenter-murder-will-testify-against-parents-162261/

When Amy Allwine was found dead, it seemed like suicide. But digital evidence from the dark web exposed a disturbing murder-for-hire plot linked to Besa Mafia and Bitcoin. As investigators peeled back the layers, a tale of betrayal, encrypted browsers, and a double life came to light—revealing her killer was someone she trusted most.