A fugitive who spent over two decades on the run has been captured after a tip from an online sleuth led investigators to a sailboat off the New Jersey coast.
Ronald L. Fischer, 69, was taken into custody without incident during a coordinated operation involving the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies.
Fischer was wanted for his disappearance during a Rhode Island sexual assault trial in 2005, where he was found guilty in absentia and served a prison sentence.
Newly reviewed court documents reveal Fischer spent days preparing for his disappearance, including emailing his attorney, canceling a flight to London, and researching how to change his identity.
According to the documents, Fischer transferred vehicles to his daughters, instructed them to remove their belongings from his home, and disposed of a Jaguar before vanishing.
Investigators believe Fischer likely left the U.S. by boat after disappearing in 2005, and may have paid over $1 million for the 56-foot sailboat "Silver Lining" that he had been living on.
Fischer had been using the alias Richard Graydon since at least 2017, and may have alternated between living on the sailboat and staying on shore during his years as a fugitive.
The U.S. Marshals Service is still investigating how Fischer acquired the sailboat and where he spent the past two decades.
Fischer's capture brings an end to a long and complex investigation, and serves as a reminder of the importance of tips from the public in solving crimes.
Authorities are currently reviewing the evidence and building a case against Fischer, who is expected to face additional charges for his years on the run.
