New York State man pleads guilty to rape and murder of three-year-old girl

By IE Staff

First published: 12:14 PDT, July 10, 2024

A 34-year-old man from Rensselaer, new Yorkhas pleaded guilty to rape and assassination a 3-year-old girl last year.

According to published reports, Robert Fisher pleaded guilty on Wednesday to first-degree premeditated murder and rape.

His appeal came just two days after the one-year anniversary of the death of 3-year-old Josefina Cunningham of Rensselaer on July 7, 2023. CBS 6 Albany reported.

The child was found unconscious and the mother called 911. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. News Channel 13 reported. Fisher was arrested almost a month later.

Fisher, reportedly a friend of the victim’s family, was staying with the Cunninghams when authorities say he raped Josefina sometime between 8 p.m. July 6 and 7:20 a.m. July 7, causing her death, CBS 6 Albany reported.

Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said in August 2023 that the crime was “absolutely heinous.” She said police learned that Josefina “had been left in the care of Robert Fisher and died at his hands.”

“This is something that the normal investigator, the normal prosecutor does not expect,” she said. “It was very difficult for everyone – the innocence of the child, the brutality of the crime.”

Fisher tried to return to the scene after the child’s mother called 911 and claimed he was getting cigarettes for someone, according to the Times Union. Rensselaer police Police Chief Warren Famiglietti told reporters he believed Fisher was trying to obstruct the investigation. Times Union reported.

Fisher initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday. Fisher will be sentenced in Rensselaer District Court on Aug. 6, Donnelly’s office said.

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