Ronald L. Fischer, a 70-year-old man described as one of Rhode Island's most wanted fugitives, has been arrested after more than two decades on the run. Fischer, a former anaesthesiologist, had been evading law enforcement since 2005 when he disappeared during his trial over allegations of first-degree sexual assault.
A team of US Marshals, FBI agents, and the US Coast Guard tracked Fischer to a 56ft sailboat named Silver Lining, which he was operating under the alias Richard Graydon. The vessel was located near the New York-New Jersey coastline, and Fischer was taken into custody without incident.
Fischer's disappearance occurred during his 2005 trial, where he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman on his yacht in 2003. The woman testified that she had met Fischer online before their first date, and the assault took place while they were aboard his boat.
According to authorities, Fischer was a skilled sailor with international connections and used multiple aliases. He was featured on America's Most Wanted and managed to evade law enforcement for 21 years. A search of his residence revealed books about evading law enforcement and the use of an 'onion router' to conceal his digital identity.
Fischer was arrested on a US Marshals Service warrant for 'unlawful flight to avoid prosecution' and was arraigned in Manhattan, where he waived extradition. The arrest brought an end to one of Rhode Island's longest-running fugitive searches.
The victim of Fischer's alleged assault expressed relief and celebration upon hearing the news, stating that she had lived in fear of seeing him again for nearly two decades. Fischer will face the consequences of his actions and will likely be extradited to Rhode Island to face the charges against him.
