Woman accused of killing former son-in-law found incompetent

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A 53-year-old Texarkana woman accused of shooting her former son-in-law to death last July has been found incompetent to stand trial.

Anne Fisher is charged with first degree murder in the July 22 shooting death of Russell Scott Cain, 28, in Bowie County. Fisher appeared with Mount Pleasant, Texas, lawyer Mark Lesher for a pretrial hearing Monday morning before 5th District Judge Bill Miller.

Miller, Lesher and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards discussed what to do next in the case now that a psychologist has determined Fisher isn’t currently fit to proceed in her criminal case. Richards said she is preparing an order for Miller to sign which will commit Fisher to a maximum security mental facility. The closest state hospital with maximum security is in Rusk, Texas.

Miller said he wants the order to contain a ruling from the court that Fisher has to take any medication prescribed for her by doctors. Once she is returned to competency, the case will move forward, Miller said.

Fisher was arrested July 22, less than an hour after Cain was shot nine times with a Ruger .380 pistol in the parking lot of Pete Mankins Used Car Center on Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas. Cain and Fisher’s daughter divorced in May 2015 and Cain received full custody of the couple’s approximately 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter.

Fisher allegedly told detectives she believes Cain was abusing her grandson though no evidence to support such a claim exists. Cain regularly allowed the children to spend nights with Fisher. Fisher called Cain and arranged to drop off some of his son’s belongings and lunch from a local restaurant the day of the shooting, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Fisher allegedly emptied one magazine from her pistol into Cain before reloading and firing more rounds into the fatally wounded man’s body as he lay on the asphalt. Onlookers followed Fisher and provided her location to police who arrested her as she drove on Park Road in Texarkana, Texas. The Ruger was sitting on the passenger seat of Fisher’s car when she was taken into custody.

Miller said Fisher’s case will be put on hold while she receives treatment at a mental facility. If convicted of murder, Fisher could receive five to 99 years or life in prison.

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