After more than two decades on the run, one of Rhode Island’s most elusive fugitives has finally been caught at sea, ending his dramatic saga. The journey of evasion, which began during a rape trial, reached its conclusion beyond the horizon.
Ronald L. Fischer, a familiar face to viewers of America’s Most Wanted, was arrested at the age of 70. Authorities caught him on his 56-foot sailing vessel approximately an hour from the New Jersey coast, as detailed in a statement released July 16 by the U.S. Marshals Service.
“This arrest is proof that evading justice is never a permanent escape,” stated Wing Chau, U.S. Marshal for the District of Rhode Island. He further emphasized, “Ronald Fischer spent over twenty years believing he was beyond the reach of justice. Yet, the relentless dedication of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, in collaboration with our partners, ensured he would never rest easy.”
What Was Ronald L. Fischer Convicted of?
Fischer was once the head of the anesthesia department at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket. He mysteriously disappeared in 2005 while on trial in Newport, having been accused of raping a woman aboard his 60-foot yacht, aptly named the Lion King, according to insights from The Providence Journal.
As the trial drew to a close, Fischer vanished without a trace, but not before sending a final email to his defense attorney. The subject line was stark and ominous: “Goodbye.”
“Although I believe my trial has gone very well and expect to be acquitted and dismissed, the small chance of losing could carry extremely and unacceptably harsh penalties,” Fischer wrote, per the news outlet. “I have therefore decided not to take the risk and leave the U.S. and enjoy life in another country where I have long been carefully planning a good, safe, secure and comfortable life.”
The trial continued in Fischer’s absence and he was convicted of first-degree sexual assault.
Ronald Fischer Was Captured After Authorities Received New Leads
For years, the former doctor managed to elude authorities, ultimately earning a spot on Rhode Island’s Most Wanted Fugitives list.
In 2009, then-deputy marshal for Rhode Island W. Zachary Malinowski told The Providence Journal that investigators believed Fischer managed to stay off the radar by moving around and relying on others.
“People are unknowingly helping him,” he said at the time. “They don’t know who he is or what he is wanted for.”
His time on the run came to an end after Deputy U.S. Marshals, along with Rhode Island Fugitive Task Force and FBI, received new investigative leads this week about Fischer’s whereabouts.
“Information received by the Task Force was rapidly analyzed, corroborated, and determined to be credible and actionable,” the U.S. Marshal’s Office said, “ultimately leading investigators to New York.”
They determined that Fischer was operating a 56-foot sailing vessel, named The Silver Lining, under the alias Richard Graydon.
Working with the U.S. Coast Guard’s 45-foot Response Boat, the marshals were able to locate the boat and apprehend Fischer without incident in the open ocean about an hour off the New Jersey shore, authorities said.
“You can run, but you cannot hide from justice,” First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda said, according to The Providence Journal. “Thanks to the determined, coordinated efforts of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and the dedicated prosecutors in this office, Ronald Fischer will now return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he sought to evade for more than 20 years.”
Fischer was wanted for first-degree sexual assault, failure to appear and flight to avoid prosecution.
“We are proud of the persistent, coordinated work that brought him to justice and the numerous Troopers, both currently serving and retired, who pursued this case for the last two decades,” The Rhode Island State Police added in their own statement following the arrest. “They never stopped seeking justice for his victim and we are thankful for their dedication.”
It’s unclear whether Fischer has retained an attorney.