What Happened to Robert Fisher?

Robert William Fisher served in the U.S. Navy before working as a firefighter and then starting a career in the medical field. He married Mary in 1987 and together they had two kids, Brittney and Bobby.

His parents divorced when he was a child. He took the separation badly and most people said he never really recovered from the emotional devastation it caused him.

A Violent, Crude Man

Home life at the Scottsdale, AZ home was anything but pleasant for Mary and the kids. Robert was described as a violent, controlling man who exhibited crude behavior toward his wife and kids. He had at least one affair during the marriage.

Police think Mary planned to leave Robert. That’s when things turned deadly.

Family Murdered

On April 10, 2001, the 39-year-old Navy vet shot Mary in the back of the head. He then slit the throats of 13-year-old Brittney and 10-year-old Bobby Jr.

After murdering his family, Fisher set the home on fire and fled the scene in Mary’s car. A natural gas line caused a huge explosion, though firefighters extinguished the blaze in time to find all three members of his family. They determined they had been murdered and Fisher became the prime suspect.

Robert Has Never Been Seen Again

Problem is, the hunter and outdoorsman has never been seen since the murder. It’s been more than 20 years since the murder and still no signs of the man. Authorities suspect he moved on to a new life complete with a new identity or perhaps that he committed suicide.

There’s a $100,000 reward offered for information that leads to the capture of Robert William Fisher.

Mary's Car Found

Police found Mary’s car on April 20 in a forest near Payton, Arizona. This is the last time police have any connection of the man.

The family dog, Blue, was found underneath the car. The dog was hungry and agitated but was taken to a nearby shelter. Police searched for miles near the car without any trace of Fisher. They did not search the caves, however, leaving some to speculate he used them as hiding places before he killed himself or died due to oxygen deprivation, though no evidence of Fisher has been found by professional cavers in the years since.

The 4Runner was located near Fort Apache Indian Reservation, another area police did not search. A couple reported seeing a man fitting Fisher’s description several days before the truck was found. Another woman told police that her husband had gone camping in the same area with Fisher in the days before the April 10 incident.

Neighbors Heard Arguing at the Fisher Home

Neighbors heard a “loud argument” coming from the Fisher home about 10 pm on April 9, 2001, just a few hours before the house went up in flames. At about 10:43 p.m. an ATM camera captured Fisher withdrawing $280 from the machine. In the background, Mary’s Toyota 4Runner can be seen. Police believe the murders had taken place by this time. At 8:42 a.m. on April 10, 2001, the house burst into flames.

Police believe Fisher set the house on fire to destroy evidence of the crime and possibly suspect that he died in the fire. His body was never found and Mary’s car was gone from the home when police and firefighters arrived. There’s also speculation that Fisher committed suicide after the murder.

Have Robert Fisher’s Remains Been Found?

In December 2021, police found the remains of an unidentified man in Arizona. They posted sketches of the man on social media. Many people speculate the man is Robert Fisher, though the body is still pending an autopsy and official identification.

More Information/ Resources:

https://web.archive.org/web/20200827084949/https://tucson.com/robert-william-fisher/image_df1236c2-643e-11df-b3e6-001cc4c002e0.html

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/search-still-on-for-robert-fisher-in-connection-with-2001-explosion-that-killed-wife-and-kid