After more than two decades on the run, a fugitive who vanished during a sexual‑assault trial appeared before a Rhode Island judge under his real name. The courtroom appearance marked the first time he identified himself as Ronald Fischer since fleeing in 2005.
Fischer, 70, entered his true identity at Newport Superior Court, where a warrant for his failure to appear in April 2005 was cancelled. He was subsequently arraigned on a bail‑jumping charge and bail was set at $20,000 surety.
Earlier this month, authorities arrested Fischer aboard the 56‑foot sailboat “Silver Lining” off the coast of New Jersey after a credible tip led investigators to his location. The capture ended a pursuit that had lasted more than 20 years.
During the hearing, Fischer appeared without legal representation, prompting the court to consider appointing counsel. His next scheduled appearance is on August 17.
For the duration of his evasion, Fischer lived under the alias “Dr. Richard Graydon,” a false identity that allowed him to avoid detection. The alias was used in personal and financial matters while he remained a fugitive.
He disappeared in 2005 amid a trial accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman aboard his boat at a Portsmouth marina in 2003. A conviction was entered in his absence, and he became one of the state’s most wanted fugitives.
Investigators concluded that Fischer meticulously planned his flight, including contacting a travel agency, purchasing and canceling a ticket to London, and returning a rental car in Boston after midnight. In the days before his disappearance, he transferred vehicles to his daughters, instructed them to remove belongings from his home, and disposed of a Jaguar.
Fischer now faces sentencing on the original sexual‑assault felony, the bail‑jumping charge, and a pending federal charge for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Each charge carries significant penalties if he is convicted.
The U.S. Marshals Service credited a multi‑agency investigation and a public tip with locating Fischer, describing the operation as one of Rhode Island’s longest‑running fugitive cases. The successful apprehension underscores the effectiveness of coordinated law‑enforcement efforts.
