Citing the possibility of bad blood between a father and son dating back to a divorce when the boy was 7 years old, defense attorney Thomas Leatherman of Goshen told the jury in Kosciusko Circuit Court this morning that "a Fisher killed Kathy Vroman, but not this Fisher."

Leatherman is the attorney for Ralph Fredderick "Fred" Fisher, 47, of Goshen, who is accused of murder in the Jan. 15, 2001, shooting death of Kathy Vroman, 48, of Milford. Vroman's body was found in a wooded area near Three Rivers, Mich., several days after she was reported missing. The investigation then turned from missing person to murder. At the origin of the investigation, Fisher's son, Jason Fisher, 24, of Millersburg, was charged with Vroman's murder. That charge remains pending and a trial date has not been set.

However, in December, Jason Fisher turned the focus of the investigation on his father when he took a polygraph examination and implicated Ralph Fisher as the shooter. Leatherman said the younger Fisher thought his dad was the safe person to pin this on ... that "he'll take the rap." Evidence from the polygraph will not be allowed during trial.

Leatherman indicated Ralph Fisher has an alibi for the day Vroman was killed. "It's impossible for him to have committed this crime," Leatherman said. "It's simply impossible."

Leatherman also told jurors that Jason Fisher liked watching the HBO series, "The Sopranos," and that he believes Jason Fisher likened himself to the character Tony Soprano and "liked talking about how those people would get rid of snitches."

Autopsy results indicated Vroman suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and police believe she was killed inside the Country Car Co. in Milford, a business owned by Jason Fisher. Telephone records will show that Jason Fisher called his dad prior to the time it is believed she was killed and Ralph Fisher also has an employee who can attest to his whereabouts, according to Leatherman's opening statement.

Jason Fisher spent 10 months in the Kosciusko County Jail before accusing his father of the murder. He has since been released from incarceration, pending trial. A trial date for the younger Fisher has not been set.

Since the time Vroman's death was ruled a homicide, several people were arrested, including the Fishers; Vroman's husband, William Vroman; Lawrence Grant of Shipshewana; and George Aldrich of Etna Green. The latter three were convicted of burglary and theft charges in connection with a December 2000 theft of more than $100,000 worth of vehicles from Rice Ford in Warsaw. Authorities have said Kathy Vroman's death was connected to an auto theft ring. All three men, as well as Jason Fisher, are expected to testify.

Grant also was convicted of unlawful movement of a body. Leatherman said he expects Grant to testify that Kathy Vroman's body was "already wrapped in a tarp, her legs were tied with an extension cord and her body was stuffed halfway into a garbage can."

It was then that Jason Fisher realized "it wasn't like TV," Leatherman said, and he enlisted Grant to help him get rid of the body.

Ralph Fisher was originally charged with assisting a criminal and unlawful movement of a body and later with conspiracy to obstruct justice. All of those charges were subsequently dismissed.

Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner said Jason Fisher was charged based upon statements made by Grant and Ralph Fisher. Waggoner said his office worked for several months to bring Jason Fisher to trial when, on Dec. 6, he received a note that Jason Fisher was "ready to tell what happened." At that time, Ralph Fisher was implicated in Kathy Vroman's murder.

"Your decision will be based upon the things that Jason tells you," Waggoner told the six-man, six-woman jury. There are also two alternate jurors hearing the case.

Leatherman predicted that Jason Fisher will testify not that he said his father killed Kathy Vroman, but that he saw his father holding a gun inside the car business.

Deputy Marshall Rich Miotto of the Milford Police Department was the first to testify today, telling the steps he took to investigate the missing person case. After a late-morning break, MFD Marshal Dave Hobbs was expected to take the stand.

The trial is expected to conclude on Friday. [[In-content Ad]]