Fugitive Doctor Captured After Two Decades on the Run

A doctor, previously convicted of raping a woman on a yacht, has been living under a fake identity in California, successfully avoiding capture for over 20 years.

Ronald L. Fisher, 70, a retired anesthesiologist, had been residing in Los Angeles as Richard Graydon while running a biotechnology firm on Olympic Boulevard, according to police reports.

His secret life unraveled last week when authorities located him aboard his 56-foot sailboat, The Silver Lining, as he navigated the East River in New York City, heading toward Long Island Sound.

The boat was registered under his alias, Richard Graydon, as identified by the U.S. Marshals Service.

His arrest signifies the conclusion of a more than two-decade manhunt that kicked off when Fisher fled Rhode Island during a trial for raping a woman on another vessel.

In 2003, Fisher faced accusations of sexually assaulting a woman during a date on his yacht, the Lion King, moored in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Two years later, just before the closing arguments of his trial, he vanished, yet the proceedings continued without him, and he was convicted in absentia for first-degree sexual assault.

Prior to disappearing, he communicated with his lawyer through a farewell email, expressing doubt about the trial’s outcome.

In that message, he stated, “I believe my trial went very well and am hopeful it will be dismissed, but there’s a slight chance of a harsh sentence.” So, he concluded it was best to leave the U.S. for a planned, comfortable life elsewhere.

Where Fisher went immediately following his escape is still unclear, but authorities indicated he may have briefly left the country. He traveled throughout the U.S. using various identities, such as Ronald Stevenson and Robert Anderson, among others.

Despite being a fugitive, Fisher managed to establish a life in Los Angeles as Graydon, even running a biotechnology business that reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he was fired for unrelated reasons.

Recent investigations by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and local law enforcement led to his capture as he sailed along the East River around 11:20 a.m. Thursday. He was taken into custody without incident.

“This arrest proves that time does not erase accountability,” stated U.S. Marshal Win Chau of Rhode Island.

Fisher’s long absence from the law was surprising; after his capture, prosecutors revealed that he possessed books on evading law enforcement.

The investigation disclosed he had been inquiring with neighbors if police were searching for them.

Throughout his time as a fugitive, Fisher was added to Rhode Island’s most wanted list and was characterized as a “master yachtsman and a world traveler.” His case even gained attention on “America’s Most Wanted.”

He continued to work in the medical and biotech sectors under different names, serving as chief medical officer for a company offering online medical consultations.

In court on Friday, Fisher appeared in handcuffs, dressed casually in a light blue polo and gray pants. He agreed to waive a formal extradition hearing to facilitate his return to Rhode Island by July 31.

Until then, he’ll remain in custody in New York.

Upon his return, the state attorney general’s office will seek a sentencing hearing for his sexual assault conviction and arrange for the bail jumping charge. Additionally, he is likely to face federal charges related to fleeing prosecution.

“You can run, but you can’t escape justice,” noted Charles Callender, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Rhode Island, following Fisher’s apprehension. “Ronald Fisher will return to Rhode Island to confront the consequences he’s tried to evade for over 20 years.”