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Rhode Island fugitive captured after more than 20 years on the run
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Ronald Fischer, a former Rhode Island doctor and one of the state's longest-wanted fugitives, was arrested after 21 years on the run following his disappearance during a 2005 trial for first-degree sexual assault.
- Fischer was accused of raping a woman aboard his boat in 2003 and was convicted in absentia after fleeing, remaining wanted for multiple charges including failure to appear and flight to avoid prosecution.
- Authorities located Fischer operating a 56-foot sailboat under an alias off the coast of New York and arrested him without incident after confirming his identity through fingerprint analysis.
- Investigators found evidence at Fischer’s residence of efforts to evade law enforcement, including books on avoiding detection, use of an onion router to hide IP addresses, and emails with family members aiding his evasion.
- Fischer was arraigned in Manhattan and remanded, with the victim expressing relief and hope for justice after more than two decades of trauma and fear.
