Fugitive ex-doctor arrested after two decades posing as biotech executive

Federal and Rhode Island authorities arrested Ronald Fischer, 70, after tracking a 56-foot sailboat off New Jersey. He had been on the run for about 20 years.

Fischer, a former anesthesiologist, vanished in 2005 while on trial for first-degree sexual assault. He used the alias Richard Graydon, which was also listed as the registered owner of the boat.

Under that alias he was hired in March by Immix as a drug development executive. The arrest raises questions about background checks in biotech firms but does not affect any specific drug programs.