|
More than a year ago, a California divorce attorney called 911 toreport that a 49-year-old man had shot himself to death in theattorney's Queen Creek home a week after Christmas. But Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detectives have determinedthat Norman's "Lee" Radder's death had been staged as a suicide andthat attorney Robert Douglas Fischer was present during thekilling, according to court records. Fischer was booked into jail Wednesday after he was indicted by aMaricopa County Superior Court grand jury on a charge ofsecond-degree murder in Radder's death. "Upon examination of the scene and the defendant's clothing, it wasdetermined that the defendant was present and in close proximity tothe victim when he was shot. This was determined through bloodspatter evidence," according to a probable-cause statement preparedby detectives. "Furthermore, it was determined that the scene hadbeen staged in order to appear to be a suicide based on bloodspatter evidence." The gun also belonged to Fischer and was found in Radder's righthand, even though Radder was left-handed, the court documents said. Other documents said Radder was found Dec. 30, 2010, in a pool ofblood on the floor of the home he was renting from Fischer. He hadsustained a gunshot wound to his eye. Although Fischer had known Radder for about 14 years, he initiallytold a 911 operator that he did not recognize the victim, accordingto the probable-cause statement. But friends of Fischer's vouched for his integrity and said theyare confident that he will eventually be exonerated. Fischer is a former Long Beach, Calif., police SWAT team member,according to documents filed by Kristen Curry, Fischer's attorney. In a character letter, Kris D. Nelson, also a retired Long Beachpolice officer, wrote that Fischer was "a born leader" who excelledin police work until he suffered an injury and was forced intoretirement by knee surgeries. "I would trust Rob with my life and have done so many times duringour career in law enforcement," Nelson wrote. Fischer reinvented himself as a highly respected divorce attorneyafter graduating from law school, according to Nelson's letter. "It's a travesty of justice. This is an innocent man being blamedfor a suicide," said Christine Miller, another friend of Fischer's."If this ever goes to court, he will definitely be found innocent." An Arizona Probate Court filing from an attorney representingSymetra Life Insurance raises a potential motive: collection on alife-insurance policy. The court filing said that Radder took out a $100,000life-insurance policy in 2002 and listed his wife, Belinda, as thesole beneficiary. Belinda Radder is Fischer's stepdaughter, the court filing said. The insurance company refused to make payment to Belinda after anautopsy concluded that Norman Radder's death was homicide, saidScott Ferris, an attorney for the company. He said the money is being held in trust as the result of a suitfiled in federal court in California, and the Maricopa County'sPublic Fiduciary Office has been appointed to protect the interestsof the Radders' two children. No charges have been brought against Belinda, who did not returntelephone calls seeking comment. Officer Chris Hegstrom, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, saidhe could not discuss the case or any other details outlined in thecourt documents. Miller, Fischer's friend, declined to comment on the life-insurancepolicy, saying she did not want to discuss Fischer's personal life. Fischer is being held on $1 million bond, but Curry, Fischer'sattorney, has requested a bond-reduction hearing. She wrote thatthe bond is excessive and has requested a $25,000 bond, asking thatFischer be allowed to return to California pending trial. But the County Attorney's Office opposes the bond reduction, sayingthat Fischer has the means to flee prosecution. According to the County Attorney Office's response to the motionfor a bond reduction, Fischer washed his hands to destroy potentialevidence, even though detectives told him not to do so. The filing outlines elements of a circumstantial case againstFischer, citing DNA evidence, blood spatter, the manipulated crimescene and gunshot residue. "The circumstances of the offense are alarming. The defendant,using his knowledge from being a former police officer and alawyer, manipulated the crime scene to make it look like asuicide," the County Attorney's Office said. "If he is willing to manipulate a crime scene to get away withmurder, then he is willing to manipulate the court to fleeprosecution." But Fischer's friend Nelson wrote that Fischer is not a flightrisk, saying, "I am confident that Rob is way more interested inclearing his good name, and giving those who suffered such a losssome closure.". I am an expert from al2o3-ceramic.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Talc Ceramic , China Big Green Egg Oven, Alumina Ceramic,and more.
Related Articles -
China Talc Ceramic, China Big Green Egg Oven,
|
