Ronald Fischer was arrested after 21 years on the run following his flight from a Rhode Island sexual assault trial.
Ronald Fischer, a 70-year-old former doctor and "master yachtsman," was captured on Thursday after fleeing a first-degree sexual assault trial for over two decades. The Rhode Island State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service coordinated a multi-state operation to intercept Fischer on a 56-foot sailboat, "The Silver Lining," approximately one hour off the coast of New Jersey. Fischer disappeared in 2005 during his trial in Newport Superior Court. He sent an email to his lawyer stating he chose to leave the United States to avoid the risk of "unacceptably harsh penalties" if he were to lose the case. He was subsequently convicted in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment. Authorities utilized several aliases for Fischer, including "Richard Graydon," to track him down. Following his arrest, Fischer was remanded in Manhattan. The capture provides long-awaited closure for the victim, Cheryl Gingerich, who spent 21 years in fear of the fugitive. The administration of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force noted that the arrest proves time does not erase accountability.