A 52-year-old Texarkana woman entered a not guilty plea Monday morning at a hearing in Bowie County.
Annette Fisher is accused of shooting her former son-in-law, Russell Scott Cain, 28, to death in the parking lot of Pete Mankins Used Car Center on Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas July 22. Fisher appeared before 5th District Judge Bill Miller for arraignment on a single count of first degree murder. Mark Lesher, an attorney with offices in Texarkana and Mount Pleasant, entered a not guilty plea on Fisher’s behalf.
At Monday’s hearing, Miller set the case for a jury trial March 22. Miller also set the case for monthly hearings to address pretrial issues which may arise before the trial setting.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Fisher told investigators who interviewed her the day of Cain’s shooting, that she believes he was abusing her grandson, who was 2 ½ at the time. Russell Cain and Fisher’s daughter, Elizabeth Cain, also have a daughter who was 8 months old when Russell Cain was killed.
Fisher reportedly brought Cain lunch from a local deli and some of his son’s personal belongings in the moments before she began firing a handgun as his back was turned. Fisher allegedly emptied one magazine, reloaded, and continued shooting, before driving away. According to the affidavit, Cain was shot at least nine times.
Fisher was arrested within minutes of the mid-day shooting. Witnesses reportedly followed her from the car lot and reported her location to law enforcement. When she was arrested, a Ruger .380 handgun was found on the passenger seat.
Russ Cain and Elizabeth Cain divorced in May. Elizabeth Cain was granted only supervised visitation but Russell Cain allowed the children to regularly spend time with Fisher. The children are currently in the custody of Russell Cain’s sister.
Fisher has been behind bars since the day of the shooting. Her bail is set at $1 million. If convicted, Fisher faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
