The remaining charge pending against Ralph Freddrick "Fred" Fisher from a 2001 case was dismissed recently in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner declined to comment Wednesday on how this will affect the new case, in which a charge of murder was filed against Fisher earlier this month. The initial case was dismissed "without prejudice," which means a new suit can be brought on the same claim if the state so chooses.

Fisher, 47, of Goshen, is charged with the shooting death of Kathy Vroman, 48, of Milford, a crime for which his 23-year-old son, Jason Fisher of Millersburg, was previously accused. Jason Fisher remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed for a Feb. 1 hearing.

In the older case against Fred Fisher, he was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, a Class D felony, for allegedly helping Jason Fisher clean up the murder scene and for advising his son as to how to dispose of Vroman's body. That charge was dismissed Jan. 9. Previously, in May, charges of assisting a criminal and unlawful movement of a body were dismissed and the conspiracy charge was filed at that time.

New evidence in the case prompted Waggoner to charge Fred Fisher in the murder. That evidence includes a statement by Jason Fisher in which Jason claims he found his father, Ralph, standing over Vroman's body holding a gun.

Vroman's body was found in a wooded area near Three Rivers, Mich., several days after she was reported missing. Authorities said Vroman died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy uncovered two gunshot wounds. The murder is said to have occurred inside the Country Car Co. in Milford, and Vroman's body was allegedly dumped where it was later found.

Vroman was employed by Country Car Co., which Jason Fisher owned, according to court documents.

New information in the murder investigation also indicates that Jason Fisher passed a polygraph examination concerning these matters, according to court documents. Waggoner on Friday filed a notice of deposition for Jason Fisher.

Thomas Leatherman of Goshen is Fred Fisher's attorney in this matter and Leatherman also represented Fisher in the other case. He calls the whole matter "bizarre" and said he plans to make some filings in the murder case with the court next week.

"This is about the most bizarre case I've been involved in in 31 years of legal practice," Leatherman said, citing how charges have been filed and dismissed and shifted around in the cases since the inception. "It's a sad state of affairs," he said.

Vroman was reported missing on Jan. 15, 2001, by her husband, William Vroman. Mr. Vroman and two other men, Lawrence Grant and George Aldrich, were charged with burglary and theft in connection with the December 2000 theft of more than $100,000 worth of vehicles from Rice Ford in Warsaw.

Authorities have said Vroman's death is linked to an auto theft ring. Jason Fisher recently was charged in connection with the Rice Ford burglary and is awaiting trial for the murder charge, as well as for charges of burglary and theft. A December trial setting in the murder case against Jason Fisher was continued shortly before it was set to begin due to new developments in the case. A new trial date has not been set.

A pretrial conference in the murder case against Fred Fisher is set for Feb. 15. [[In-content Ad]]