True Crime Society – Where is fugitive Robert Fisher?

Robert Fisher is an American man who has been on the run from police since 2001.  He allegedly murdered his household (spouse Mary and their two youngsters Bobby and Brittney) after which blew up their residence in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Robert was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wished record from 2001 till 2021 when he was eliminated for now not assembly the factors. 

Robert William Fisher was born on April 13, 1961 in Brooklyn, NY.  His father was William Fisher, and his mom was Jan Howell.  Robert had two sisters.  

Robert’s mother and father divorced when he was a teen and he was reported to have had a tough time with the separation.  He lived together with his father following the cut up.  He and his sisters moved with their dad to stay in Arizona.  The kids attended Sahuaro Excessive Faculty in Tucson.  Certainly one of Robert’s associates from highschool remembered him being ‘very bitter’ about his mother and father’ divorce. 

Robert was stated to have had distinctive looking expertise and was identified for being an outdoorsman.  

Robert married Mary Cooper in 1987.  Mary was born in Chicago on October 3, 1962.  The couple had two youngsters, Brittney and Robert Jr (generally known as Bobby).  Brittney was born on April 27, 1988 and Bobby was born on September 21, 1990.

Robert joined the US Navy for a time period.  He tried to hitch the SEALs however was not profitable., He then moved to a profession as a fireman in California however he needed to retire following a again damage.   After this, he moved his household to Arizona and he moved into the medical subject.  He labored then as a surgical catheter technician and as a respiratory therapist.  Robert was employed by the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale in 2001, on the time of the murders.

Pals have described Robert as merciless in the direction of his household.  He and Mary had been stated to have fought about intercourse and cash.  Mary received a job and he or she informed associates that she did so, as a result of she wanted a ‘safety fund.’  She additionally stated she took the job as a result of she wanted to have the ability to purchase garments and toys for the youngsters. 

“Robert was an ultra-control freak,” a Scottsdale police detective wrote in a abstract of an interview with a household buddy. “He stated he would inform the youngsters what time to stand up, what time to go to mattress, what garments to put on, what to eat.”

Robert additionally refused to ever take his household to Disneyland as a result of that’s the place his mother and father had their final screaming struggle earlier than their divorce.   Robert allegedly informed associates that he believed his life would have been very completely different if his mom had not left the household.

Mary’s mom, Ginny Cooper, would later inform police that Robert “didn’t socialize typically with household due to a concern of getting too near individuals and shedding them.”

AZ Central reported in 2002 on some alleged abuse by Robert in the direction of his household:

Robert allegedly turned a backyard hose on Mary after she spoke up towards him.

Robert wouldn’t let Mary paint the partitions of their residence something however white and he needed to approve the pictures that had been displayed. 

“A number of instances her mom had made particular issues, like quilts,” Mary’s buddy, Kimberly Sue Davidson, informed police. “She was not allowed to hold them up. She needed to retailer them within the closet. After which he would regularly inform her, isn’t it time you bought rid of these items?”

Bobby didn’t wish to hunt or fish and Robert was stated to be embarrassed of this.  He requested a buddy ‘Will he develop out of it?” 

Robert additionally determined to ‘educate’ his children to swim by throwing them off a ship.

“They had been crying, and Brittany was screaming, and he pulled them again within the boat and he stated, ‘Now there, how’s that?’ ” his buddy Sandy Gillespie informed police.

At one level, Robert had a canine referred to as Ruger that he adored.  A buddy stated that he alternated between being chilly and indignant in the direction of his household, however confirmed adoration in the direction of the canine.

A buddy stated “He was speaking about getting residence to the youngsters and he simply . . . there was no feelings; after which began speaking about his canine, and I bear in mind telling him, I stated, ‘Robert,’ I stated, ‘You sound such as you’re speaking about some woman.’ “

Certainly one of Robert’s shut associates was Pastor Kenneth Hodgeson.  Based on AZ Central, Robert as soon as performed a joke on him.

He went to Kenneth’s residence and pointed a pistol at his buddy’s head.

“He let me see the bullet go in,” Kenneth stated. “However he de-cocked it proper at my head after which he goes ‘Isn’t that cool?’ “

Robert’s associates additionally noticed him show some unusual conduct on looking journeys.  He killed an elk as soon as and started smearing the blood on his face.  

There was additionally an incident the place Robert shot a stray canine.  He stated it was as a result of the animal attacked his personal canine however police stated he arrange the encounter in order that he may purposely shoot the stray.

Robert and Mary’s marital points had been evident in the direction of everybody.  His Pastor buddy Kenneth stated although “Divorce was not an possibility.”

Kenneth recommended the couple after Robert had a one-night stand with a intercourse employee that he met in a therapeutic massage parlor.  Robert was fearful that he had picked up a UTI after the encounter.  

“They didn’t have a cheerful marriage,” stated Wade Rencsok, a former neighbor. “They screamed consistently. Everyone heard it. You could possibly hear it in the home subsequent door, and also you by no means actually heard him scream, which is sort of bizarre. I imply he had a approach about him, however you by no means heard him scream. You all the time heard his spouse screaming. Issues like, ‘You’re nugatory. I may have executed higher than you. We should always break up.’”

Robert had beforehand informed associates that he had considered taking his personal life because of the state of his marriage.

Within the months previous to April 2001, Robert started to withdraw from church actions. 

He informed a looking buddy that he  “couldn’t stay with out his household”, presumably hinting that he would contemplate suicide over divorce.

Within the weeks earlier than the homicide, Mary had began telling associates that she was planning to divorce Robert.

On the evening of Monday, April 9, 2001 , neighbors reported that they heard a loud argument taking place contained in the Fisher residence.  This was stated to be at round 10pm.

At 10.43pm, Robert was noticed on a digital camera at an ATM.  He withdrew $280.  Mary’s Toyota 4Runner automobile will also be seen within the footage.

Police have since stated that the murders possible occurred between 9.30pm and 10.15pm, so Robert’s household had been lifeless by this level.

At 8.42am on Tuesday April 10, 2001, the Fisher home exploded.  The blast was sturdy sufficient to break down a brick wall.  Homes in a one-half mile radius had their frames rattled.  

Neighbors rushed out with backyard hoses to attempt to extinguish the flames.  Firefighters then arrived.  The flames reached a peak of 20 toes/6 metres and so they labored to maintain it from spreading to different properties.  

Firefighters had been unable to get too near the house as secondary explosions stored occurring.  It’s believed these had been brought on by both rifle ammunition or paint cans.

Investigators found that the gasoline line from the home’s furnace had been pulled.  The gasoline was then ignited by a candle that it’s assumed Robert had lit.  This might have taken hours and gave him time to flee the scene.   It’s believed he had a ten hour head begin on regulation enforcement after the explosion and murders.

The burned our bodies of Mary, Brittney and Bobby had been discovered mendacity in mattress.  Mary was 38, Brittney was 12 and Bobby was 10. Autopsies had been performed and it was found that Mary had been shot behind the pinnacle.  Brittney and Bobby had their throats slashed from ear to ear.  The household canine, Blue, was not discovered on the property. 

Police theorized that Robert’s motive for the murders was that Mary deliberate to depart him and that he didn’t need his youngsters to endure divorce like had as a baby. 

Police discovered a secure contained in the Fisher residence that had survived the fireplace.  These are pictures of what was discovered inside.

The primary picture exhibits an empty revolver case – the gun is regarded as the homicide weapon. 

Robert was named as an official particular person of curiosity on April 14, 2001.  He’s the one one who has ever been named as such within the case.

It was thought that Robert had fled in Mary’s Toyota – he was seen on CCTV with the automobile on the ATM and it was not discovered on the residence.  

On April 20, 2001, the automobile was discovered within the Tonto Nationwide Forest, close to Younger, Arizona.  That is round 100 miles north of Scottsdale.

Blue, the household canine, was discovered close to the automobile.  The canine was stated to be hungry and agitated and had taken shelter underneath the automobile.  

In earlier footage from the ATM, Robert was seen carrying an Oakland Raiders hat and an similar one was discovered contained in the automobile. 

Human faeces was present in a pile close to the passenger door of the automobile.

The realm the place the automobile was found is understood for having dozens of caves within the neighborhood.  Police have been stated to have searched the world surrounding the automobile, however solely searched one of many caves.

Olivia to debate caves – Robert was conversant in caves, arduous to entry and many others.

People who find themselves conversant in the caves have theorized that Robert hid in one in all them earlier than both escaping or dying.  He presumably hid in a cave and left as soon as police exercise had diminished.  Or possibly he died from low oxygen ranges and his stays have by no means been discovered.  The third concept is that he took his life in one of many caves.  No signal of Robert has been present in any of the caves since he disappeared.  

There have been footprints from the Toyota that result in the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.  Based on the ‘Lacking in Arizona’ podcast, the footprints didn’t match the dimensions of Robert’s toes.  Both approach, police by no means searched the reservation.

Earlier than the automobile was discovered, a pair noticed a person who regarded like Robert strolling alongside a close-by highway.  The girl apparently informed her husband ‘That appears like Robert Fisher.’  They couple didn’t report the sighting till after the automobile was discovered.

A buddy of the Fisher household, Lori Dollar, informed police that her husband and Robert had beforehand gone tenting within the space the place the automobile ended up being discovered.  Lori stated that her husband now believed that Robert was scouting the world in preparation of his crime/dumping the automobile and he was very conversant in the terrain.

On July 19, 2001, a warrant was issued for Robert.  He was charged with three counts of first-degree homicide and one rely of arson.  

He was declared to be a fugitive and was additionally charged by the US District Court docket for the District of Arizona with illegal flight to keep away from prosecution.  

In June 2002, Robert was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wished Listing.  He was the 475th legal to be positioned on the record.

The FBI have provided a reward of as much as $100k for info within the case.  

By April 2003, two years after he possible murdered his household, the FBI had obtained ‘tons of and tons of of leads.’  There has by no means been a confirmed sighting of Robert – all reported sightings are stated to have been false or inconclusive.

Sightings of Robert have are available from all around the world.  Folks in his outdated neighbourhood have reported seeing somebody who resembled him driving within the space.

A person who regarded similar to Robert was arrested in Vancouver, Canada in 2004.  This sighting is mentioned at size within the ‘Lacking in Arizona’ podcast.  A person grew to become suspicious of his ex-wife’s new accomplice, who regarded like Robert.  This man was lacking a tooth in the identical location as Robert and he additionally had a scar in the identical place on his again.  The person was held by the RCMP for per week earlier than it was decided that his fingerprints weren’t a match to Robert.  There was hypothesis that the person had by some means altered his fingerprints, however police stated there was no scarring to counsel this was the case.

The Lacking in Arizona podcast additionally discusses a sighting of Robert in Australia.  An American household had been on trip once they had been sure they noticed Robert.  They referred to as police and the person was tracked down and decided to not be the fugitive.  

In October 2014, police raided a home in Commerce Metropolis, Colorado after they received a tip that Robert was hiding there.  Two individuals in the home had been arrested, however there was no signal of Robert.

In 2016, the FBI launched age progressed pictures of Robert.  This marked the fifteenth anniversary of the murders of his household. 

In November 2021, Robert was faraway from the FBI’s Ten Most Wished record.  He was changed by Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias, the alleged chief of MS-13 in Honduras.

Robert is/was nonetheless needed and the FBI made an announcement about why he was faraway from the record:

“As a result of the in depth publicity Fisher’s case obtained throughout its practically 20 years on the record has not resulted in his profitable location and/or seize, the case now not fulfills that requirement.” 

When you’re questioning in regards to the standards to be added to the record:

The FBI chooses fugitives primarily based on two most important elements: The particular person have to be harmful or have a file of significant crimes, and the FBI should imagine nationwide publicity will assist discover the suspect. 

Scottsdale police Detective John Heinzelman, the lead detective at the moment assigned to the case, spoke on the time about being informed that Robert was being faraway from the record.  

“I stated, ‘OK, that’s high-quality by me.’ It doesn’t actually change something I’m doing,” Detective Heinzelman stated.

The detective stated in 2021 that he was nonetheless getting two to a few suggestions per week, or about 100 leads a yr. 

“We’re nonetheless on the lookout for him, no completely different than earlier than,” he stated.

“We don’t know precisely what occurred,” stated FBI Particular Agent Taylor Hannah. “And I believe their households, each Robert and Mary’s, deserve that info right now.”

There are three most important theories about what occurred to Fisher:

He’s dwelling someplace underneath an assumed identification.

He killed himself, and his physique has not been discovered.

He was on the run for weeks or years however has since died, and his stays haven’t been discovered or recognized.

“He could possibly be dwelling in a small city, the place he will get paid money and he works as a handyman,” stated Detective John Heinzelman. “Or he could possibly be in a giant metropolis and mix in.”

“Possibly that is the most effective we’ve got, understanding he did it, and by no means discovering him once more,” stated Detective Heintzelman.

The murders and Robert’s disappearance happened earlier than 9/11, and border management was extra lax at the moment.    He might have been capable of flee the nation extra simply.  

Jon Walczak, host of the Lacking in Arizona podcast has this opinion.  “After two years of researching this, I very strongly assume that Robert Fisher is alive and I’m working this difficult as a result of I need to discover him.  I believe that Robert Fisher deliberate this out. I believe that he left the SUV within the forest as a diversion and that anyone drove him out of there and he escaped.”

So, Robert continues to be lacking.  He actually could possibly be wherever.  

FBI agent Bob Caldwell has stated that he’s “boastful. He’s cocky. He’s a know-it-all…and a loner.” 

Robert was identified to chew tobacco and favors the Copenhagen model. His look has been described as common, however he generally walks in an odd, erect method together with his chest out resulting from a again downside stemming from the damage that he suffered as a firefighter, and is an avid hunter and fisherman.

Robert is taken into account armed and intensely harmful and has ties to Florida and New Mexico.

SOURCE LIST

https://www.azfamily.com/2024/08/10/podcast-uncovers-altered-timeline-witnesses-robert-fisher-case

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_William_Fisher