Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 23, 1990 TAG: 9006230150
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: VICTORIA RATCLIFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Edgar Lee Fisher Jr., 36, was ordered held without bond after a Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge heard testimony that Fisher had been sentenced in 1977 to five years in prison for unlawful wounding in the child-abuse death of his daughter, Melanie Ann.
Judge Joe Clarke said he also was concerned that Fisher might be a danger to himself after hearing testimony that he had shot himself in the chest June 11 after agreeing to surrender to authorities to be charged with sexually abusing the 6-year-old daughter of an acquaintance.
Roanoke County detective Chris Nielsen testified Friday that he interviewed Fisher on June 11. Fisher acknowledged fondling the child, but denied a charge that he had sexually assaulted her with an inanimate object, Nielsen testified.
Authorities were notified of the case after the child's mother took her to be examined at a hospital.
According to a search warrant filed in Roanoke County Circuit Court, authorities searched Fisher's home in the 4100 block of Bugle Lane in the Bradshaw area and confiscated a hand-lotion bottle, ropes and a Freddy Krueger costume and mask.
The search warrant states that the 6-year-old girl claimed Fisher "had worn a mask and/or costume to scare her."
Fisher and his wife at the time, 21-year-old Dorothy Annette, were charged in Salem with the 1976 beating death of their daughter. Both were convicted of unlawful wounding.
Then-Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Charles Phillips dropped the murder charge because medical evidence could not show how the death blow to the child's head was delivered.
Testimony in that case showed the Fisher child was the victim of continuous beating, burnings and abuse. Testimony showed that when she was taken unconscious to Lewis-Gale Hospital on Aug. 6, 1976, there were numerous bruises on her body, an untreated laceration on her chin and month-old burns on her back and feet.
The child died two days later of a head injury.
Fisher testified then that most of the wounds suffered by the child were inflicted by the child's mother, and that he did little to abuse the child.
But his explanation of how the burns on her back occurred contradicted the explanation he gave to then-Salem Police Sgt. F.L. Crockett shortly after the child's death.
Fisher said he was aware that his wife had abused the child, but he didn't contact authorities because "she threatened to leave and take both the children."
Nielsen testified Friday that Fisher told him he served about two years of his five-year prison sentence for his daughter's death.
He testified that Fisher also has been convicted in 1975 of obtaining money under false pretenses and was declared a habitual offender in 1985.
Roanoke County Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Leach asked Clarke on Friday to hold Fisher without bond.
Clarke said he also was concerned about protecting the 6-year-old girl from any potential future abuse.
The child has been temporarily removed from her mother's custody, and a hearing will be held next week to determine whether the child should be placed in foster care.
Clarke told Fisher's attorney, Jack Gregory, that he would agree to reconsider Fisher's request for bond after he learns the outcome of next week's hearing.
by CNB