After two decades evading capture, a notorious fugitive finally appeared in a Rhode Island court this week, using his real name for the first time since his disappearance during a sexual assault trial. Ronald Fisher, now 70, attended the Newport Superior Court hearing where a judge annulled an outstanding warrant linked to his non-appearance at trial in April 2005. He faced charges of bail jumping, with his bail set at $20,000.
Fisher was apprehended earlier this month while on his 56-foot sailboat, the Silver Lining, off New Jersey’s coast, following tips that pinpointed his location.
During the court session, Fisher appeared without legal representation as the discussion of appointing an attorney unfolded. His next court date is slated for August 17.
Authorities reported that he had remained at large for over 20 years, living under the alias “Dr. Richard Graydon.” Fisher’s troubles began when he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in 2003 at a Portsmouth marina. He vanished right in the midst of his trial in 2005, came to be declared guilty in absentia, and became one of the state’s most wanted criminals, even showing up multiple times on the show “America’s Most Wanted.”
Before his disappearance, a court affidavit revealed that Fisher had meticulously orchestrated his escape plan, emailing his lawyer on April 23, 2005, to announce his intention to flee the country. That night, he reportedly called his daughters to say goodbye.
Investigators discovered that he contacted a travel agent in New York and bought a flight from Boston to London, but that plan fell through when the reservation was canceled before he could board. Surveillance footage later showed him returning a rental car in Boston just after midnight, lugging two travel bags.
It came to light that prior to going on the run, Fisher also took the time to settle his personal matters – he passed on his car to his daughters and urged them to clear out the house. Moreover, he disposed of his Jaguar, seemingly preparing for an extended absence.
Now facing serious charges including sexual assault, felony bail jumping, and unlawful flight to evade prosecution, Fisher’s apprehension concludes one of Rhode Island’s longest-running fugitive cases, attributed to extensive multi-agency collaboration and public assistance.
