The Man Who Blew Up His Home and Vanished. A father accused of killing his family, destroying the evidence, and disappearing without a trace: Robert Fisher Disappearance

A House That Was Meant to Erase Everything:

In the early hours of April 10, 2001, a quiet suburban home in Scottsdale, Arizona exploded into flames. Neighbors ran outside expecting a gas leak or accident. What investigators would soon discover was far more disturbing. This was not an accident. It was a calculated attempt to destroy evidence and possibly to disappear forever.

Inside the wreckage were the remains of a mother and two children. The man who lived there, their husband and father, was already gone.

His name was Robert William Fisher.

Who Was Robert Fisher

Robert William Fisher was a respiratory therapist, a former firefighter, and an experienced outdoorsman. Friends described him as quiet and private. Behind closed doors, investigators later learned the marriage was strained, marked by frequent arguments and control issues.

Fisher reportedly held rigid views about family roles and struggled with anger when he felt his authority was challenged. Those closest to the family said divorce was being discussed, something Fisher was strongly opposed to.

The Victims

The victims were Fisher’s wife, Mary Fisher, and their two children, Brittney Fisher, age 12, and Bobby Fisher, age 10.

Investigators later determined that Mary and the children were killed before the explosion. The fire was not the cause of death. It was a final step.

The Explosion

The house was intentionally rigged to explode using gasoline and an ignited pilot light. The blast was powerful enough to level much of the structure. Authorities believe the goal was simple: destroy the crime scene and any forensic evidence.

But something went wrong.

Despite the fire, enough evidence remained to show the explosion had been staged after the killings.

The Disappearance

Hours after the explosion, Fisher’s vehicle was found abandoned near the edge of a remote forest area east of Phoenix. His dog was inside. Fisher was not.

Search teams scoured the area, including caves, trails, and remote terrain. No body was ever found. No confirmed sightings followed.

Investigators were left with two possibilities: Fisher died by suicide in the wilderness, or he successfully escaped and started a new life.

Why Authorities Believe He Survived

Fisher was an avid outdoorsman with strong survival skills. He was familiar with the terrain and capable of living off the land. He also had knowledge of explosives and fire behavior, suggesting planning rather than panic.

Authorities believe he may have crossed into another region or even another country. Over the years, multiple sightings have been reported, none confirmed.

The FBI Most Wanted List

Fisher was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in 2002. He was later removed due to the length of time he had been on the list, not because the case was closed.

The warrant for his arrest remains active.

If alive today, Fisher would be in his early 60s.

The Questions That Still Remain: Robert Fisher Disappearance

Did Robert Fisher die in the wilderness, or did he succeed in disappearing? Was the explosion meant only to destroy evidence, or to fake his own death? How does a man accused of such a crime vanish without a single confirmed trace?

More than two decades later, the answers remain unknown.

A Case That Refuses to Close

The Fisher case continues to haunt investigators and the public alike. It stands as one of the most chilling examples of a family annihilation followed by a complete disappearance.

And until Robert William Fisher is found, alive or dead, the case remains open.