Learn more about this terrible tale by following a timeline of events showing what happened before and after the murders.

This timeline of events shows what was happening before and after Robert Fisher’s family was murdered in its Scottsdale home in April 2001. The events are based on a PHOENIX magazine analysis of police records and interviews. (All dates and times are approximate.)

December 2000: Robert Fisher has his second affair, contracts urinary tract infection; Mary kicks him out of the house.
 
January 2001: Robert Fisher pawns his 9-millimeter Beretta for a snubnose .38-caliber revolver at a local gun shop; later, Mary’s head wound would be consistent with this gun.
 
February 2001: Mayo Clinic employees notice changes in Robert’s demeanor; hunting friend gives him several military food rations as a gift.
 
March 2001: Robert Fisher borrows keys to a friend’s cabin in Alpine; later, Mary and Robert appear to be getting along fine at a few family events.
 
April 6, 2001: Mary Fisher talks to Robert’s mother, Jan Howell, by phone; no problems are reported.
 
April 7, 2001: Robert Fisher goes shopping for motor oil, antifreeze; goes to a movie with Mary, Mary’s sister and his brother-in-law at Scottsdale Pavilions.
 
April 8, 2001: Mary Fisher and her children meet her mother for lunch at Sweet Tomatoes in south Scottsdale; Robert does not attend.
 
April 9, 2001, 2 p.m.: Mary leaves work to pick her kids up from school; no problems reported.
 
April 9, 2001, 4 p.m.: Robert Fisher leaves work a bit early to attend his daughter’s school event; shops for camping supplies.
 
April 9, 2001, 5 p.m.: Mary’s talks to her sister on the phone; discusses camping plans for upcoming weekend.
 
April 9, 2001, 10 p.m.: A neighbor overhears the Fishers arguing.
 
April 10, 2001, 7:20 a.m.: Nearby parent who shares carpooling duties with Mary calls Mary when she doesn’t arrive; no one answers the phone at the Fisher house.
 
April 10, 2001, 8:40 a.m.: Fisher home explodes in flames.
 
April 10, 2001, 4:15 p.m.: Apache County Sheriff’s deputies check on the Alpine cabin owned by Robert Fisher’s friend; one of the beds has the covers slightly pulled back.
 
April 10, 2001, 6:45 p.m.: Bartender at Rye Bar in Rye, Arizona, contacts Gila County Sheriff’s Office after encountering a young woman with a man matching Robert Fisher’s description.
 
April 10, 2001, 10 p.m.: Rye resident contacts Gila County Sheriff’s Office after encountering a woman matching the description of the woman at Rye Bar.
 
April 11, 2001, 9 a.m.: Scottsdale Police alert Border Patrol agents, giving them a description of Robert Fisher and Mary’s Toyota 4Runner.
 
April 18, 2001: Scottsdale Police notify the State Department of Robert Fisher; his name is flagged in case he applies for a passport.
 
April 20, 2001: Mary Fisher’s 4Runner is found near Young.
 
April 23, 2001: Crews demolish what’s left the Fishers’ home.

For more on the Robert Fisher case, read our feature 'Where in the World is Robert Fisher?'