Ronald L. Fischer, a fugitive for over two decades, was apprehended aboard a sailboat off the New Jersey coast, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service announced.
Fischer, 69, had been on the run since April 2005, when he disappeared during his trial for first-degree sexual assault in Rhode Island. He was found living under the alias Richard Graydon aboard the 56-foot sailboat "Silver Lining." The breakthrough in the case came after an online sleuth provided a tip to investigators, leading to a joint operation involving the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Newly reviewed court documents detail Fischer's meticulous planning in the days leading up to his disappearance. On April 23, 2005, he emailed his attorney, informing him of his intention to flee the country. That same evening, he contacted his daughters to say he was leaving the United States. Investigators also found that Fischer had inquired with a New York travel agency about a flight to London, purchased a ticket, and then canceled the reservation before boarding.
Surveillance footage showed Fischer returning a rental car in Boston shortly after midnight and walking away with two travel bags. Before vanishing, he transferred vehicles to his daughters, instructed them to clear his home of their belongings, and disposed of a Jaguar.
An affidavit suggests Fischer informed his attorney that he did not want to risk a conviction in state court and instead planned to seek a "good, safe, secure and comfortable life" abroad. A search of his residence uncovered literature on changing identities and disappearing.
Authorities believe Fischer, a former anesthesiologist, may have left the U.S. by boat. His ex-wife, Dr. Nancy Stein, told investigators that Fischer was well-traveled and had contacts in countries including Brazil, suggesting he might attempt to charter a vessel. Investigators suspect Fischer may have paid over $1 million for the sailboat where he was ultimately captured, though the exact timing and method of acquisition are still under investigation. He is believed to have used the alias Richard Graydon since at least 2017, and possibly earlier. His fugitive years may have involved alternating between living on the sailboat and staying on shore.