Murder of Kristie Fischer

On December 1, 1991, three-month old baby Kristie Fischer died in a house fire in Thornwood, New York.

Fischer's family accused their au pair, a Swiss woman named Olivia Riner, of killing the baby by arson. They stated that she had not attempted to rescue the baby, and therefore they believed she was guilty. Riner originated from Wettingen and had babysat for a Swiss family for three years. She worked as a pediatrician's assistant before being hired for a one-year term to care for the Fischer family, through the company E.F. Au Pair.

Alex Prod'Homme of People wrote that "the case turned into an international cause célèbre" partly because it almost coincided with the release of the film The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and partly due to the gravity of the crime. Richard Lorant of the Associated Press wrote that the case was compared to the film and that it "frightened working mothers everywhere." William Glaberson of The New York Times wrote that the case "crystallized the concerns and worries parents have about leaving their children in other people's care".

Fires started in three separate places in the Fischer house.

Prosecutor George Bolen accused Riner of gathering accelerants and putting paint thinner on the baby. Authorities charged Riner with second-degree murder and first-degree arson.

Riner's agency hired lawyer Laura Brevetti one month prior to Fischer's death; Brevetti became Riner's attorney. Riner's trial began on June 2, 1992. The authorities had insufficient physical evidence to show that Riner had caused the fire. Brevetti stated that the police botched the investigation and did not consider other possible suspects for the fire. Brevetti stated that two men had started the fire.

The jury, made of seven men and five women, ruled that Riner was not guilty after one day of deliberation. Some jurors stated that the prosecution never stated a motive for why Riner would have committed the crime. Glaberson wrote that the verdict "appeared an endorsement of an aggressive defense strategy." The judge, Donald N. Silverman, stated his agreement with the result. Fischer's family maintained their belief that Riner was guilty. Authorities never filed any criminal charges related to this case against anyone else.

Geraldo Rivera, according to Lorant, suggested and "all but accusing" a family friend of the Fischers as being the perpetrator. Lorant stated that Geraldo's presentation "didn't hurt" Riner's case.

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Wikipedia