1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Missing in Arizona contains graphic depictions of violence and may 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: not be suitable for all listeners. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 2: It's morning again in America. 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: April tenth, two thousand and one, eight forty one am, Scottsdale, Arizona. 5 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: In one minute, this suburban ranch at the end of 6 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: a cul de sac in the valley of the Sun 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: will explode, But before it does, walk with me through 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: the front door. 9 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 3: In the shosh. 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: It's dark, the air is stagnant. Morning light seeps through 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: closed curtains. A pair of eyes stare at us from 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: across a murky living room. The head of an elk 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: mounted on a wall glide with me quietly down the hall, 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: past the furnace stop. A candle flickers, illuminating three bedroom doors. 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: In each room, a bed in each bed, a body. 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: Mary Fisher thirty eight, Knee Fisher twelve, Bobby Fisher ten. 17 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: It's morning in America, two thousand and one. These walls 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: in two chaos that in a moment will spill out 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: as fire and smoke and charred debris, a violent rupture, 20 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: and the hunt will begin for Robert Fisher Boom from 21 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio and Neon thirty three. I'm John Walzac and this 22 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: is Missing in Arizona, the story of a man who 23 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: disappeared after allegedly killing his wife and kids, blowing up 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: their suburban home, and escaping into the wilderness. Twenty three 25 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: years later, I'm hunting Robert Fisher, and I need your help. 26 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: In April two thousand and one, Robert Fisher pulled off 27 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: one of the greatest escapes in American criminal history. After 28 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: slitting the throats of his wife and children and shooting 29 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: his wife in the head. Fisher rigged their house to explore, 30 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: then sped away in his wife's suv. Police say nine 31 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: days later, a man camping at a remote forest located 32 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: the abandoned suv and Fisher's dog Blue near a series 33 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:16,279 Speaker 1: of caves. Since then nothing did Fisher die by suicide? 34 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: Did someone help him flee? Perhaps he's alive today. Fisher's 35 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: timing was impeccable. He vanished at precisely the right moment 36 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: on the eve of nine to eleven, Facebook the iPhone 37 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: ring cameras. He exited just as the Promethean tentacles of 38 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: the modern surveillance state started to suffocate the world. His 39 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: disappearance would be virtually impossible today. Early two thousand and 40 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: one marked in many ways the beginning of the end 41 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: of the mono mystery. Mysteries so dramatic and stupefying, perpetually unresolved, 42 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: that they burrowed deep into our collective consciousness, unifying a 43 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: house divided, if briefly in magnetic spectacle and society wide confusion, 44 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: was the twilight of an era during which you could say, 45 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: kill your family, flee, and not be caught on anything 46 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: more than grainy ATM footage. Yet even then, the Fisher 47 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: case never achieved the same fame as, say, the disappearance 48 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: of DC interns Chandra Levy in May two thousand and one, 49 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: or Andrea Yates drowning her five kids in a bathtub 50 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 1: in June two thousand and one. Why maybe because men 51 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: killing women or kids in a domestic setting is so 52 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: common in America that, despite its barbarity, this case fails 53 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: to shock. Or maybe because Fisher wasn't even the most 54 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: famous fugitive who allegedly fled into a cave in two 55 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: thousand and one after perpetuating a violent spectacle, And this 56 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: case is spectacle. It's cinematic in many ways. It's a 57 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: classic Western a mysterious figure commits a series of brutal murders, triggers, 58 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: and explosion and flees into the rugged landscape pursued by 59 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: law enforcement and twenty three years later and journalists with 60 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: a masochistic pension for mind boggling mysteries to be upfront. 61 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: I haven't found Fisher yet, but I have found a 62 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: ton of new information, including new witnesses, new clues, and 63 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: new persons of interest. This is a case with so 64 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: many frustrating questions. The most critical is Robert Fisher alive today? 65 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: The FBI says it doesn't have an official opinion. Yet, 66 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,679 Speaker 1: the bureau kept him on its ten most wanted list 67 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: for nineteen years. Why do that if you think he's dead. 68 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: If Fisher is alive, he's sixty three and extremely dangerous. 69 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: A man who kills his wife and kids won't hesitate 70 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: to kill again. Take a moment now to look at 71 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: our show art. It features an age progressed image of 72 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: what Fisher could look like today. I want you to 73 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: scan the men you know, neighbors, coworkers, friends, your husband, 74 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: your father who was not in your life prior to 75 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: April two thousand and one. Later in the show, I'll 76 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: share Fisher's voice, recreated using artificial intelligence. Listen closely. Does 77 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: it sound like anyone you know? Let me speak now 78 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: directly to Robert Fisher. Robert, if you're tuning in, and 79 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: if you made it this far, you probably are, Listen closely. 80 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: I will not give up. I'm not the police, I 81 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: am not the FBI. I found things they missed. I 82 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: can dedicate all my time to you. I will follow 83 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: up on every lead today, tomorrow, in ten years. You 84 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: like control, well, this is your final moment of control. 85 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: These words are going out to millions of people, and 86 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: it's not two thousand and one anymore. You're going to 87 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: make mistakes or someone will turn you in. And if 88 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: you are in fact dead, if I'm speaking to a ghost, fine, 89 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: I still want to find you. I want to bring 90 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: home your bones so that the people whose lives ruptured 91 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 1: when Mary, Brittany and Bobby died can find the tiniest 92 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: bit of peace. I sat with them, the people who 93 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: loved your wife, your kids, even you. I looked them 94 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: in the eyes. I listened as they told me how 95 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: much this blew up their lives, their sense of security. Robert, 96 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: this is now my full time job to find you. Monday, 97 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: April ninth, two thousand and one, there's a major crisis 98 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: in the South China Sea. Eight days ago, an American 99 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: spy plane collided with a Chinese jet, then made an 100 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 1: emergency landing on a nearby island. Its crew remains detained. 101 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 4: We've got every diplomatic channel open. We're in discussions with 102 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 4: the Chinese. Is now time for our troops to come 103 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 4: home so that our relationship does not become damaged. 104 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: Time magazine features an egg sizzling in a frying pan 105 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: above the headline global warming, climbing temperatures, melting, glaciers, rising seas. 106 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 1: The radiant egg yolke is cleverly earth itself. We're feeling 107 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: the heat. Times says, why isn't Washington on the front 108 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: page of the Arizona Republic in this order? A weather 109 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: forecast sonny high seventy four, low forty nine, the words 110 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: good morning, and a photo of Tony Soprano scowling in 111 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: a bathrobe. An Italian American group wants the Sopranos canceled 112 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: or boycotted. I think it's bad for America. A spokesman says, 113 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: we're having children shooting each other in schools, and we 114 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: have a program that's deifying and romanticizing shooting people in 115 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: the head. This is America. April ninth, two thousand and one. 116 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: The song Butterfly by crazy Town is number one on 117 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: the radio. Spy Kids is the top movie. Aliyah is Alive. 118 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: The Twin Towers are standing and in Scottsdale, Arizona, a 119 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: well to do Phoenix suburb, the Fisher family is getting 120 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: ready for the day. Dad Robert thirty nine, Mom Mary 121 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: thirty eight, daughter Brittany twelve, son Bobby ten, seven thirty 122 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: am Robert Fisher begins his shift at the Mayo Clinic 123 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: Hospital in Phoenix. He's a medical technician who works in 124 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: a cardiac cath lab, assisting doctors and nurses with invasive 125 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: diagnostic procedures. 126 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 5: They go in and they run catheter up into the 127 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 5: heart and up into the blood vessels, sometimes near the brain, 128 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 5: and they'll shoot different kinds of eyes and they'll look 129 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 5: at it on this image to see as their thought. 130 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: This is one of Fisher's coworkers. I agreed not to 131 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: name him. 132 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 5: The catheter is very big. It's about the size of 133 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 5: your pin. So when they take it out, you have 134 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 5: to hold pressure for a long long time for a 135 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 5: plot to form. 136 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: If you're on a gurney today in the cath lab, 137 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: just know that this man's standing over you, six feet tall, 138 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: one hundred and ninety pounds, light brown hair, blue eyes, 139 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: holding pressure on your wound will, according to police, murder 140 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: his family in about twelve hours. As Robert Fisher starts work, 141 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: his wife Mary takes the kids to school. Ten year 142 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: old Bobby is a gentle goofball, quiet but funny. He 143 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: loves video games and blanket forts and his razor scooter. 144 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: He's a fourth grader at Pima Elementary School. 145 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 6: He was a sweetheart. 146 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: Beth Anderson is a Fisher family friend. Her son Brock 147 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: is Bobby's age. 148 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 6: At the time, we had a convertible and we were 149 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 6: coming down the one oh one and they asked me, 150 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 6: can we ride with the top down, like, don't put 151 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 6: the top up? And I said, well, it's going to 152 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 6: be really loud and noisy and windy, and then oh, 153 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 6: we don't care. We don't care. So they're in the 154 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 6: backseat and off we go. We're coming down the one 155 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 6: oh one, and these two were just laughing hysterically, just 156 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 6: belly laughing. Their arms were up in the air, they 157 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 6: were waving to people, and I just remember looking in 158 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 6: the rear view mirror, thinking the innocence of childhood. 159 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: Not long before the murders, some of Bobby's friends attend 160 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: to sleep over at the Fisher House. The kids watched 161 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: the nineteen ninety nine remake of The Haunting, starring Liam Neeson, 162 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: Catherine Zada Jones and a Rotten Tomatoes score of seventeen percent. 163 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 7: That terrible movie. Looking back on it now. 164 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: Brock Anderson, it scared the crap out of me. The 165 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: film's antagonist, Hugh Crane, is a womanizing bully who kills 166 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: children and burns their bodies in his fireplace. 167 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 7: I remember watching that and Robert was there. I remember 168 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 7: him kind of interacting with us in like a playful 169 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 7: way of like, oh, yeah, you guys are scared. 170 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: Brock spends a lot of time at the Fisher House. 171 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 7: I remember how dark the lighting was in that home. 172 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 7: It always just felt like a cave. The main light 173 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 7: would come from the kitchen, the living room, like it 174 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 7: just curtains were always just kind of closed. It always 175 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 7: just seemed kind of dark. 176 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: Robert Fisher is a cheapskate who doesn't want to pay 177 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: for air conditioning, even in blazing Arizona, so he keeps 178 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: the curtains drawn. Twenty two to twenty three North seventy 179 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: fourth Place is Robert's stifling castle, and in it he 180 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: does whatever he wants. Mary be damned. 181 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 7: Mary would always get really bothered by Robert chewing tobacco 182 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 7: at the table when we'd be eating dinner. 183 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 2: He was just always. 184 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: Chewing winter green Copenhagen. 185 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 7: He always had a cup or a coke can or something, 186 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 7: and yeah, I remember she would just kind of give 187 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 7: him that look or make a Snyder remark, and it 188 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,319 Speaker 7: was just kind of like, this is awkward. 189 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: That sniping is a sign of a toxic dynamic, a 190 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: husband always attempting to assert control, a wife willing to 191 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: fight back. I wanted to spell immediately any image of 192 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: Mary as some passive yes sir wallflower steamrolled by her 193 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: domineering husband. Mary is strong, five foot four, one hundred 194 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: and thirty five pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes, a natural 195 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 1: born leader with many friends and a jovial streak of sarcasm. 196 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: Her life centers on Jesus and her kids. Yes, she 197 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: believes a wife should be submissive to a degree, but 198 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: it's also her choice when to fight and when to 199 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: just roll her eyes, not because she's weak, but because 200 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: she's wise. You see this dynamic obnoxious Robert exasperated Mary 201 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: on home videos, later rescued from a fire safe in 202 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: the charred rubble of their house. In one clip from 203 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: April nineteen eighty nine, Robert lays in bed, propped on pillows, 204 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: holding the camera with one hand and with the other, 205 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: his black lab Ruger, sits at the foot of the bed. 206 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 8: Rue. 207 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 3: You see your happy birthday to Brittany. 208 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: It's Brittany's first birthday. 209 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 8: Can you sing boy from your heart like you really meant? 210 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 1: Robert pants the camera to Mary holding baby Brittany. Mary 211 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: looks annoyed and quickly exits. Robert gets up and wanders 212 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:05,599 Speaker 1: around Brett. 213 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 8: Brett mayor. 214 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 9: Ma're here. 215 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 10: I don't see it here they're here? 216 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 8: Oh well, looky. 217 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 3: Here go get a roof. 218 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: Mary sitting on a toilet seat in the bathroom, combing 219 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: Britney's hair. 220 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 10: Say what what do you say? 221 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 4: Mar? 222 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 3: This is the. 223 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 7: Oh, this is Brittany's day, Ruger, get out of the day. 224 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: Five years into their marriage, Mary is not afraid to 225 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: bark at Robert, and Robert isn't afraid to be a 226 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 1: smart ass in response. In fact, after Ruger exits the camera, 227 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: still aimed at Mary's face, Robert plays the harmonica again, 228 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,320 Speaker 1: as if to purposely annoy her. The video then jumps 229 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: to a scene of Robert and Brittany in a kiddie 230 00:13:53,559 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: pool in the backyard. What two This clip shows something important. 231 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: Robert clearly loves his kids. Yes, he's strict, but he 232 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 1: cares deeply for Brittany and Bobby. If not, Mary, let 233 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: me pause and get something out of the way. You're 234 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: going to hear me occasionally say kind things about Robert Fisher. 235 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: Don't mistake that for anything other than what it is, 236 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: an accurate portrayal of a complex man. It doesn't serve 237 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: anyone to paint Robert as a demonic cartoon. If we 238 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: want to understand the crimes, if we want to understand Robert, 239 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: if we want to find Robert, we have to resist 240 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: the urge to soothe ourselves with an infantilized portrait of evil. 241 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: April ninth, two thousand and one, around eight am, Mary 242 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: arrives at her part time clerical job at a small 243 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: medical supply company. Her boss, Lori Greenbeck, is also her friend. 244 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 11: She was a very kind person, but she's very sassy. 245 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 11: She was about five four, long, blonde hair, always had 246 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 11: it curled, always styled. She's always wearing a button up blouse, 247 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 11: tucked in shirt. 248 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 8: Yeah. 249 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 11: She was always neat, always put together. 250 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: And what about Robert jans. 251 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 11: T shirt, slouching, dragging his feet, Yeah, he didn't care. 252 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: Lunchtime on this sunny day, Robert Eet's outside with three 253 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: co workers. He's quiet and distant with them, but alone, 254 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: something's not right. At one point, he gets up and 255 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: walks away. Sometime between two and three pm, Mary Fisher 256 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: gets ready to leave work. 257 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 2: She had a Reci's candy bar. They have two little 258 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 2: cups in them. When she was just standing right in 259 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: front of my desk, she opens this reseason. She puts 260 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 2: one on my desk and then she took the other 261 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 2: one and she was like, see you tomorrow. 262 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: Three twenty two pm, Mary signs a check at Kmart 263 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: for eighteen dollars and eighteen cents. Sometime between three point 264 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: thirty and three fifty pm, Robert sits on a floor 265 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: at the hospital. He tells the doctor that his daughter, Brittany, 266 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: is being inducted tonight into the National Junior Honor Society, 267 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: and he's taking her to the ceremony. Three fifty one pm, 268 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: Robert clocks out. This is strange. If he waits until 269 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: three point fifty three, he'll get paid for a full hour. 270 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: Today is the first time one coworker has ever seen 271 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: him clock out early like this. What's the rush? Britney's 272 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: Honor Society event isn't for three hours. Robert heads to 273 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: the locker room. He changes out of scrubs and into 274 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: street clothes. Here's the recreation of what a coworker later 275 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: tells police. 276 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 9: He had on a cutoff T shirt. I think it 277 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 9: was a blue cutoff shirt from a fire department or something, okay, 278 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 9: And he had a black Oakland Raiders hat and shades. 279 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 9: Small sunglasses. 280 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 8: Small sunglasses, yeah. 281 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 9: Like I don't know if there are Oakley Okay? 282 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 8: What kind of pants was he wearing? 283 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 9: Blue jeans? 284 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: The coworker and Robert exit the hospital around four pm. 285 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: We're driving in the main entrance, can see the hospital, 286 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 1: and so we are looking for the east side of 287 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: the southern parking lot. This is where Robert gets into 288 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 1: his Silver two thousand and one, dodge Ram three point 289 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: fifty seven pm by now Mary's home from Kmart, she 290 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: emails a group of friends about an upcoming women's retreat. 291 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: The Fishers haven't had a computer for very long. Email 292 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 1: is still a novelty between four pm and six forty 293 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: five PM. Robert's whereabouts during this period are unconfirmed. He 294 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: departs the hospital at four pm and his home at 295 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: the latest by about six forty five. His house is 296 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: nineteen miles south, a twenty to thirty minute drive, passing 297 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 1: Scottsdale's most famous tourist attraction, Talies in West Frank Lloyd 298 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: Writ's winter home. Wright built it after an ax wielding 299 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 1: servant murdered seven people, including Wright's mistress and her kids, 300 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: at Talius in East in Wisconsin in nineteen fourteen, before 301 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: dousing the house in gasoline, burning it down, swallowing hydrochloric acid, 302 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: and starving to death in jail seven weeks later. On 303 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: April ninth, nineteen fifty nine, exactly forty two years before 304 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: the Fisher's final day, Wright died in Phoenix after his 305 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: third and final wife died in nineteen eighty five at 306 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 1: a hospital in which Robert Fisher would soon work. Wright's 307 00:18:54,359 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: remains were exzoomed, cremated, and relocated from Wisconsin to Scottsdale. 308 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: April ninth, two thousand and one, about five pm, Mary 309 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 1: Fisher speaks by phone with her sister Myrna Murna doesn't 310 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: notice anything unusual. Between six and seven pm, Mary speaks 311 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: by phone with her friend Mary Beth Rodin. Mary Beth 312 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: doesn't notice anything unusual either. Six p fifty four pm 313 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:25,679 Speaker 1: sunset seven pm. Robert and Brittany are at Supei Middle School. 314 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: Britney is set to be inducted into the National Junior 315 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: Honor Society. 316 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 8: The honor society was not just about getting a's and b's. 317 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 8: It was also about how do you represent your community. 318 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,640 Speaker 1: Let me now introduce you to four teachers I lovingly 319 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: call the Supeie Gang. Karen Ka Eberley, Britney's language arts teacher. 320 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: Kim Spate, Britney's science teacher and basketball coach. 321 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 12: I'm Ronda Featherston. 322 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: Ronda helps run the National Junior Honor Society, and finally, 323 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: the last member of the Supei Gang, Britney's social studies 324 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 1: and math teacher, requested anonymity. Like many people, she believes 325 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: Robert Fisher is alive and is concerned for her safety. 326 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: Let's call her miss Honey in honor of the teacher 327 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: in Matilda. None of these four women, three of whom 328 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,360 Speaker 1: were at the honor Society event, have ever been interviewed 329 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: by media, and Ronda was never interviewed by law enforcement either. 330 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: When I start reaching out to the supe I gang, 331 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: they're initially and understandably suspicious. Who is this scoundrel? Is 332 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: this a scam? They convene remotely and determine that yes, 333 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: I am indeed legit. All of this is endearing to 334 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,439 Speaker 1: me and a bit strange. Like Brittany Fisher, I was 335 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: born in nineteen eighty eight, and like Brittany, I was 336 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 1: a seventh grader in April two thousand and one. In 337 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: a way, it feels like reaching out to my old 338 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: teachers decades later, trying to solve a mystery. Supei even 339 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: resembles my middle school in North Carolina. 340 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 8: It was Pink Frink, Split Green Doors. 341 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: The ceremony takes place in the cafeteria on one side, 342 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: a stage on the other, tables with cake and punch. 343 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: John Baird, who co runs j with Ronda Featherston gave. 344 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 12: A little introduction and we stood for the national anthem. 345 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 12: The students were on stage and we had the chairs 346 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 12: on the floor for parents. 347 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 1: And guests, including Robert Fisher. 348 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 3: He wasn't dressed up like I would have expected him 349 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 3: to be. 350 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: Miss Honey, Brittany's teacher and Honor Society sponsor, is likely 351 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: the second to last person to see and speak with 352 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: Robert Fisher before the murders. 353 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 3: He was casual, but not grengy, but just casual. And 354 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 3: I remember when I shook his hand that night to 355 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 3: congratulate him, because Brittany was with me. I was like, congratulations, 356 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 3: you must be so proud of her. There was no response. 357 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 3: I got no response. 358 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: Besides, this lines up with what Miss Honey told police 359 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: in two thousand and one. She recalled telling Robert Fisher, 360 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: you must be so proud of her. Robert shrugged his 361 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: shoulders and said it's to be expected. 362 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 3: It was almost like it was inconvenience to be at 363 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 3: this ceremony, like, ugh, I guess we're going to do this. 364 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: Earlier, Robert told a coworker that he doesn't live in 365 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: a great school district. So Britney's Honor society induction might 366 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: not be a big deal. Robert is there, but not there. 367 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 1: Kay Eberly tells police quote he did not seem proud 368 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: of Brittany. 369 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 8: I remember shaking Robert Fisher's hand and getting a weird 370 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 8: vibration from that, and I remember saying, you must be 371 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,640 Speaker 8: very proud of Brittany, and his response was I wouldn't 372 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 8: expect anything less. And it was not in a happy voice. 373 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 8: It was more of a yeah, this is what she 374 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 8: needs to do. 375 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: Robert asks Kay how long the event will last. She 376 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 1: tells him about forty five minutes. Then he pulls his 377 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: chair away from the other parents, teachers, and students. Now 378 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: it's just him, Brittany, and miss Honey. 379 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 3: Ended up in this really uncomfortable situation with Brittany and 380 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 3: then her dad and then me and then over to 381 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 3: this idea was that that was kind of strange. That's 382 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 3: why I didn't leave her. I wasn't going to leave her, 383 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 3: you know. I could have gone in sad with my 384 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 3: colleagues because other people had families, you know. And then 385 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 3: the teachers were seated somewhere else by tried to stay 386 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 3: as much as I could. 387 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: Brittany is quiet and smart and funny. She loves Jesus 388 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: and has kind of a country western vibe. She keeps 389 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 1: the photo of the family dog, blue tapes in her locker. 390 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 1: She speaks to and stands up for kids with special needs. 391 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: She has a slight lisp, but her dad refuses speech therapy, 392 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: not for his kids. To visualize how old Brittany would 393 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: be today, look to Lizzo. Brittany and Lizzo were born 394 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: on the same day, April twenty seventh, nineteen eighty eight. 395 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: Or look to Emma Stone, who, like Brittany, was born 396 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty eight and grew up in Scottsdale, only 397 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes from the Fishers. It's unlikely Stone knew Brittany, 398 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: but to be safe, I did reach out to her reps. 399 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: They haven't gotten back to me yet. Brittany was only 400 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: four months older than me. Calling through Fisher home videos, 401 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 1: I found this clip. Brittany, wearing a pink and white 402 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: Poga dott dress, gets off a school bus and runs 403 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: to Mary. Mary pushes Bobby in a stroller. 404 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 8: Slack and hamps from the bus stop. 405 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: The date suddenly comes into focus. September eighth, nineteen ninety three. 406 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: My fifth birthday. While interviewing people who knew Brittany, I 407 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: came to see myself as a physical embodiment of their loss. 408 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: I'm thirty five, Brittany would be thirty five, thirty six 409 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: actually by the time this errs. In the home videos, 410 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: there are so many delicate moments of Brittany and Bobby 411 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: the banal beauty of childhood. There are also clips that, 412 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: in retrospect seem kind of eerie. In one, Brittany dances 413 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: in the front yard as her dad films ring. 414 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 2: Well the Roney the road. 415 00:24:55,160 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: Ashes ashes, we all fall down. Then you hear Robert 416 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: Fisher in front of a house that, according to police, 417 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: he will one day burn down. 418 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 8: Ah. 419 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: In another, Mary asked Brittany that a water gun and 420 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: here's one more. Robert sits on the floor cross legged 421 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: with Brittany, Bobby, a toy contraption, and a water balloon. 422 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 5: Hit boom. 423 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 1: These home videos make me sad and remind me that, yes, 424 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: this is a fascinating case. It's okay to admit that. 425 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 1: But these people are real. We're real. If you like 426 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: this show, please download our first two seasons, Missing in 427 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: Alaska and Missing on nine to eleven for updates, visit 428 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: meon thirty three dot com or follow me on Twitter 429 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: at John waalzac J and w al Czak. Thanks for listening. 430 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: April ninth, two thousand and one, seven something PM sup 431 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,719 Speaker 1: by Middle School Robert Fisher makes miss Honey feel uneasy. 432 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: What a jerk here tonight and what should be a 433 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 1: beaming moment of pride for his daughter, this sweet twelve 434 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: year old girl, Robert says, essentially, meh, honor society, so 435 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: what whatever? 436 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 3: And that was partially why I sat there with her. 437 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 3: I wanted her to feel that she had the support, 438 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 3: you know, as an educator and just as a person. 439 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 3: Liked that she wasn't alone. I felt like, you have 440 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 3: a creepy dad, So I'm going to sit with you. 441 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 3: I mean that. I don't mean to put it that way, 442 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 3: but that was my thinking. You know, I'll see with 443 00:26:57,400 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 3: you since you're alone. 444 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: Here, Brittany seems to more and tired. 445 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 3: She could sense something was going on with dad. Normally 446 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 3: parents would be like, oh my gosh, I'm so proud 447 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 3: of you, congratulations. And I think she sensed it because 448 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 3: she wasn't her like excited, smiley self that I knew. 449 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 3: I mean, she was smiling, but it was something was 450 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 3: missing that night. 451 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: Britney's hair is damp. She must have showered right before 452 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: the ceremony. Miss Honey shakes Robert's hand, makes small talk, 453 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: then steals Brittany away for a moment, and I. 454 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 3: Remember telling her, I am really proud of you. I 455 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 3: really really proud of you, you know, And even then, 456 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 3: just because I could feel that he was not giving 457 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 3: her that what a father would, and so I tried 458 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 3: to tell her what a great job she's doing and that, 459 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 3: you know, to keep it up. 460 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,640 Speaker 1: Kay Eberly also notices that Britney seems kind of down. 461 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: Her handshake is quote very wimpy, which is out of character. 462 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 10: I just got the weirdest feeling that something was not 463 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 10: right with either one of them, with Brittany and with 464 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 10: her dad, and I dismissed it as being they had 465 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 10: a quarrel. I thought maybe she was upset because her 466 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 10: mother wasn't there. 467 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: It is abnormal that Mary isn't here. Instead, she and 468 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: Bobby are two miles away at a hunting safety course 469 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: at Scottsdale Baptist Church. It's unclear why Mary takes her 470 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 1: son to a hunting class. Masculine, while Robert takes his 471 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: daughter to a school event feminine. At least that's how 472 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: Robert would see it. Around seven thirty PM, as the 473 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: ceremony concludes, students light celebratory candles, then step off the stage. 474 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: Teachers ask parents to wait five minutes so they can 475 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: sign diplomas. Meanwhile, they say please enjoy the cake and juice. 476 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: Brittany goes for a glass of punch. Robert doesn't join her. 477 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: He doesn't even wait for her to get her diploma. 478 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: He seems to be in a rush. Around seven thirty 479 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 1: five PM, Robert and Brittany depart sup By Middle School. 480 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: They drive two point three miles north, either directly in 481 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: front of or very close to their church. They don't 482 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: stop to see Mary and Bobby. Instead, they go to 483 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: a nearby store. I'm at popular outdoor outfitters, or at 484 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: least what used to be popular outdoor outfitters, is now 485 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: an abandoned, vacant building. At some point, also in the 486 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: last twenty years, it was an Errands. They have a 487 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: we've moved sign in the window, and I'm pressing my 488 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: face against the glass and looking inside. This is the 489 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: last place that anyone saw Robert Fisher alive. It was 490 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: an eighteen year old store clerk named Ian, and the 491 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: evening of April ninth, two thousand and one, Robert and 492 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: Britney Fisher came here to this exact spot directly after 493 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: the National Junior Honor Society event at Super Middle School. 494 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: Now they were here for fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, 495 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: and at seven to fifty five PM, Robert pays eighty 496 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: nine forty eight for five items. A pump Pure microfilter, 497 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: which is used by backpackers and hikers to filter water, 498 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: a sixty four ounce water bottle, proof matches, and two 499 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 1: packets of water purification tablets. He and Brittany leave this 500 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: store this exact spot and presumably goes straight home. The 501 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: eighteen year old cashier, Ian, who we've tried to talk 502 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: to and I don't think he wants to speak to 503 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 1: us because we've sent a letter and emailed and called Ian, 504 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: is the last person to see Robert Fisher alive. Ian 505 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: tells police that Robert and Brittany are in the store 506 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 1: for about thirty minutes, but if they leave Sup by 507 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 1: around seven thirty five, drive to the store and check 508 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: out at seven fifty five. This can't be accurate. It's likelier. 509 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: They're here for about fifteen minutes. At one point, Ian 510 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 1: looks up to see Robert and Brittany staring at him, 511 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,719 Speaker 1: which makes him uncomfortable. Robert tells Ian he needs advice 512 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 1: on water purification, saying he's going to draw water from 513 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: a cattle hole and he's worried about viruses. Ian gets 514 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: the impression that Robert is planning on camping for quite 515 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: a long time and that he's leaving town for a while. 516 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,960 Speaker 1: Seven to fifty five pm. Robert swipes his credit card. 517 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: He and Brittany exit the store. It's unclear if they 518 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 1: stop anywhere else, but if they do, Robert doesn't use 519 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 1: his credit card. At some point they return home eight 520 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: thirty to nine pm. This is when the kids normally 521 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: go to bed. Robert and Brittany are likely home by now, 522 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 1: but Mary and Bobby are still at church studying how 523 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: to properly handle guns. Nine thirty pm the hunting class ends. 524 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: Beth Anderson, a Fisher family friend, is also at church tonight, 525 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: teaching a course on financial responsibility. Beth and Mary speak briefly. 526 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 6: I said, okay, we'll see you tomorrow morning. 527 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: For a women's Bible group, and. 528 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 6: She said, okay, so that's the last thing I said 529 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 6: to her. 530 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: Beth is likely the final person to see Mary and 531 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: Bobby Fisher alive. She waves as they drive away in 532 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: Mary's silver Toyota for Runner. 533 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 10: Okay. 534 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 8: So. 535 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: Driving from the Fisher's home to their church, Scottsdale Baptist, 536 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 1: it's about a point six mile or three minute four 537 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 1: minute drive nine thirty to ten pm. This is when 538 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: Mary and Robert normally go to bed around nine forty pm. 539 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:12,320 Speaker 1: Mary and Bobby get home from the hunting class around 540 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: ten pm. A neighbor tells police that while taking out 541 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: the trash, she hears a heated argument between Robert and Mary. 542 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: Around ten thirty eight pm, Robert leaves the house. So 543 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: we're driving leaving right now from the cul de Sac. 544 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: It's a really pretty neighborhood, a lot of mid century ranches, 545 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,960 Speaker 1: the kind that working class stiffs could afford in the 546 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: fifties or sixties, or even two thousand and one, but 547 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 1: not today. These modest homes are now worth about seven 548 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars. Summer twenty twenty three. I'm on the 549 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: ground now in Arizona for four months with our producer Chris. 550 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:51,640 Speaker 1: We rent a small house in Phoenix. We're lucky to 551 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 1: have any shelter. It is literally the worst summer ever, 552 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: the hottest summer in any major American city in recorded history. 553 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: But as the meme goes, the coolest summer of the 554 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 1: rest of our lives. Nearly one thousand people live downtown 555 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 1: in a sprawling homeless encampment called the Zone. Phoenix hits 556 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: at least one hundred and ten degrees fahrenheit for thirty 557 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: one days in a row, shattering records. Decals and stickers 558 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: jokingly feature a skeleton resting on a cactus. At least 559 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 1: it's a dry heat. They say that dry heat helped 560 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 1: kill four hundred and twenty five people in Maricopa County 561 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 1: last year. Meanwhile, the Colorado River, the source of water 562 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 1: for forty million people, is running dry. It's in this boiling, scalding, 563 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: dry heat that Chris and I venture out to retrace 564 00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 1: Robert Fisher's final known steps. So we're at the intersection 565 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 1: of mcdowellan seventy fourth. There is a Chase Bank here 566 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:48,560 Speaker 1: used to be a bank. One April ninth, two thousand 567 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: and one ten forty two oh seven pm, Forty minutes 568 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: after a neighbor hears Robert and Mary fighting. Robert is 569 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: standing here at this ATM zero point six miles from 570 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:07,479 Speaker 1: his house. A security camera captures the final confirmed sighting 571 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: of Robert. In grainy black and white footage, we see 572 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: him wearing a long sleeved shirt with an RC COLA logo, 573 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:17,359 Speaker 1: tucked into cargo style pants, and in Oakland Raiders ball cap. 574 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: He appears to be wearing boots. In the background, we 575 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,879 Speaker 1: see Mary Fisher's Forerunner, which is bizarre. Robert and Mary 576 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 1: rarely drive each other's vehicles. If ever, Robert pulls out 577 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: two hundred and eighty dollars the daily max ten forty 578 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:47,359 Speaker 1: three fifty four. Robert walks away from the ATM ten 579 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: forty four three. Robert reaches the Forerunner. He seems to 580 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: pause ten forty four twenty one. Robert gets into the 581 00:34:56,560 --> 00:35:03,799 Speaker 1: fore Runner. He drives away. This is April ninth, two 582 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: thousand and one, a normal day, school work and honor 583 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: society ceremony, a hunting class, marital strife, a trip to 584 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 1: an ATM. A normal day. The ATM footage is the 585 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 1: final clue. The final time anyone sees Robert Fisher. The 586 00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:23,880 Speaker 1: final time anyone sees Mary Fisher's forerunner, Untila Camper, finds 587 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:27,680 Speaker 1: it abandoned ten days later in a remote forest. I 588 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 1: wish to God we had more witnesses, but sadly we don't. 589 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:37,640 Speaker 1: Next time on Missing an Arizona Except this is false. 590 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: The timeline repeated by law enforcement in the media for 591 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,400 Speaker 1: twenty three years is incorrect. The timeline in which Robert 592 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 1: Fisher possibly has a ten hour lead on police before 593 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: his house explodes is not accurate. When I investigate these 594 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 1: high profile stories, there's inevitably a point when I ask myself, 595 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 1: why why am I doing this? This case has been 596 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 1: investigated and reported repeatedly. What's the point. Well, this is why, 597 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:06,880 Speaker 1: because there are always new facts to find, and I 598 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 1: found them. No, I haven't located Robert Fisher yet. For 599 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: that I need your help. But I have found a 600 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 1: ton of new information, including a new witness and a 601 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: post atm sighting a new timeline. As we conclude, let 602 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,720 Speaker 1: me leave you with this from a home video dated 603 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 1: February eighteenth, nineteen ninety four, Britney Fisher and her classmates 604 00:36:31,200 --> 00:37:21,240 Speaker 1: stand on a stage in front of proud parents. Next 605 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 1: time I'm missing in Arizona. 606 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 9: What's going on? 607 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:24,920 Speaker 5: It's a big fire. 608 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 8: Was generally big fires just like blew up? 609 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 9: Okay, what's on fire? 610 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:30,240 Speaker 1: The whole house? 611 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 8: Hello, whole house is burning up. 612 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,239 Speaker 1: You can reach us by phone at one eight three 613 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: three new tips that's one eight three three six three 614 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: nine eight four seven seven, by email at tips at 615 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 1: iHeartMedia dot com, t I p s at iHeartMedia dot com, 616 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: online at me on thirty three dot com, or on 617 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 1: Twitter at John Waalzac j O n W A L 618 00:37:57,000 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: c Z A K. Paul Ducan is our execus producer, 619 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 1: Chris Brown is our supervising producer. Hannah Rose Snyder is 620 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:07,319 Speaker 1: our producer. Paul Gemperlin is our researcher. Ben Bollen is 621 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:10,360 Speaker 1: a consulting producer, and I'm your host and executive producer 622 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: John Walzac. Special thanks to Matt Baugard and the Scottsdale 623 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,000 Speaker 1: Police Department, and a shout out to Max Schwartz, the 624 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: first person to discover an Easter egg I hid in 625 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,960 Speaker 1: season two, Missing on nine to eleven Recreations, voiced by 626 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: Max Williams and Paul Deckin. Cover art by Pam Peacock. 627 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 1: Neon thirty three logo designed by Derek Rudy. Our intro 628 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 1: song is Utopia by Ruby Cube. Please download the first 629 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,200 Speaker 1: two seasons of our show, Missing in Alaska and Missing 630 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:38,839 Speaker 1: on nine to eleven, and if you're so inclined, give 631 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,440 Speaker 1: us a five star rating. Missing in Arizona is a 632 00:38:41,480 --> 00:38:44,640 Speaker 1: co production of iHeartRadio and Neon thirty three