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Rensselaer County resident Robert Fisher, age 34, of Rensselaer, died around 1:150 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County, said Thomas Mailey of the State Department Of Corrections.
Fisher pleaded guilty in July to raping and murdering Josefina “Josie” Cunningham of Rensselaer in July 2023.
A trusted family friend, Fisher, admitted to drugging, sexually assaulting, and killing the girl while he was babysitting at her home in Rensselaer, the Rensselaer Police said at the time.
Josefina’s mother found her lying lifeless on the floor, foaming at the mouth and drenched in bleach.
She was later pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center.
Mailey said Fisher was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison in September and began his sentence on Monday, Sept. 23.
An official cause of death has not yet been revealed by the Chemung County Medical Examiner’s Office, Mailey added.
"I hope that all people affected by this horrific crime can now begin the next step of the healing process," said Rensselaer Police Chief Warren Famiglietti.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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