In the quiet suburbs of Scottsdale, Arizona, Robert Fisher, a 40-year-old surgical technician and avid outdoorsman, was last seen on the evening of April 9, 2001. At approximately 10:43 p.m., a security camera captured him withdrawing $280 from an ATM, with his wife's Toyota 4Runner visible in the background. This mundane transaction was the last confirmed sighting of Fisher before a horrific tragedy unfolded. Neighbors reported hearing a loud argument from the Fisher home around 10 p.m.
that same night. In the days and weeks leading up to this, Fisher's wife, Mary, had reportedly told friends she intended to divorce him. Fisher had a history of controlling and violent behavior, and the marriage was known to be troubled.
The following morning, on April 10, 2001, an enormous explosion tore through the Fisher's house, engulfing it in flames. When firefighters were able to enter the destroyed home, they made a grim discovery. The bodies of 38-year-old Mary Fisher, and their two children, 13-year-old Brittney and 10-year-old Bobby, were found in their beds. An investigation revealed they had not died in the fire; all three had their throats slashed, and Mary had also been shot in the back of the head. Investigators believe Robert Fisher murdered his family, then pulled a gas line from the furnace and lit a candle to create a delayed explosion, giving himself a roughly 10-hour head start to disappear.
The search for Robert Fisher began immediately, with law enforcement naming him as the sole suspect in the triple homicide and arson. A crucial break in the case came on April 20, ten days after the murders, when Mary's Toyota 4Runner was discovered abandoned in the Tonto National Forest, near Young, Arizona. The family's dog, Blue, was found near the vehicle, but Fisher was gone. An extensive manhunt was launched in the rugged terrain, which included a complex system of caves that Fisher, a skilled survivalist, was familiar with. Despite the massive effort, no trace of him was ever found. For his crimes, Fisher was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in June 2002. He was removed from the list in November 2021, not because he was no longer a suspect, but because the extensive publicity over two decades had not led to his capture. Over the years, numerous tips and possible sightings have been investigated, but none have been confirmed. The case remains an active investigation, with the central question of whether Robert Fisher successfully created a new life under a different identity or perished in the vast Arizona wilderness still unanswered.Last Seen: Apr 9, 2001
