A Rhode Island fugitive who had been on the run for 20 years and was featured on “America’s Most Wanted” was captured by US Marshals on his sailboat off the coast of New York.
Ronald L. Fischer was tracked down by federal agents to his 56-foot-long sailing vessel “The Silver Lining” about an hour offshore on Thursday, ending a decades-long wild goose chase to take down the sex offender, according to the US Marshals Service.
Fischer, 70, had been on the lam since 2005 when he fled Rhode Island during his criminal trial in Newport for allegedly raping a woman on his yacht named the “Lion King,” two years earlier.
The former anesthesiologist, described as being a “master yachtsman, world traveler, and being internationally connected,” used over a dozen aliases, including Richard Graydon, the name “The Silver Lining” was registered under when he was arrested.
Federal and state agents had gathered information of Fischer’s location “over 48 hours” and intercepted the runaway in the waters, roughly an hour from New York, where he was taken into custody without incident, officials said.
Fischer disappeared from the Ocean State days before closing arguments were scheduled in his 2005 case, claiming innocence but telling his attorney he was fleeing to a different country.
“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 in the email at the time, WPRI reported.
“I have therefore decided not to take the risk and to leave the US and enjoy life in another country where I have long been carefully planning a good, safe, secure and comfortable life.”
The trial against the then 49-year-old continued despite him being out-of-state, and he was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in absentia, officials said.
He was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear, first-degree sexual assault, and flight to avoid prosecution.
Fischer was featured several times on the hit show “America’s Most Wanted” during his time on the run, the Rhode Island State Police said.
Officials celebrated Fischer’s arrest, 20 years after his initial escape.
“You can run, but you cannot hide from justice,” First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Charles Calenda said, according to the outlet. “Ronald Fischer will now return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he sought to evade for more than 20 years.
“This arrest demonstrates that time does not erase accountability,” Rhode Island US Marshal Wing Chau said. “We hope today’s arrest brings a measure of justice and long-awaited closure to the victim and everyone impacted by these crimes.”
Fischer was brought to Staten Island before being transferred to Manhattan, where he is being held until officials decide if he will appear in federal court for absconding or be sent to New York state court for an extradition hearing back to Rhode Island, NBC New York reported.
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