Craig Hickman - The Insiders

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Wall Street Billionaire Charged with Murder

By CATHERINE ROGERS and GRAHAM NGUYEN Monday, February 21

SUN VALLEY, ID — Charles Fielder, the billionaire whose consulting firm Fielder amp; Company is credited with launching more IPOs on Wall Street than any other firm, was found shot in the head in his private ski chalet at a family-owned resort in Sun Valley, ID, on Sunday afternoon. His unconscious body was found lying alongside two unidentified women with fatal gunshot wounds.

The deaths of the two women were confirmed by the Sun Valley Police Department, which said the women were in their late twenties; both had been shot in the head at point-blank range. Mr. Fielder was taken to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum, ID, where he is still in a coma. Police received an emergency call at 2:18 p.m., Sunday afternoon, from White Horse Resort management, informing them of the gruesome discovery. According to the Sun Valley PD, Mr. Fielder has been charged with murder in what is described as a double murder-suicide attempt.

Daniel Redd, a lawyer for the Fielder family, said that Mr. Fielder was meeting with clients and associates at the White Horse Resort in a company retreat over President’s Day weekend. “This is a terrible tragedy, and the family expects Charles to be fully exonerated,” Mr. Redd said. “The family will be making no further statement at this time.”

Assistant SVPD Chief John Zemke, who is in charge of the case, said that the investigation into the shootings and deaths would remain open for the foreseeable future, a routine course of action in cases where victims remain unidentified. “The Fielder chalet at White Horse has been secured and detectives are currently on the scene,” Zemke reported on Sunday evening.

Mr. Fielder is founder and chairman of Fielder amp; Company, a respected management consulting firm with revenues over $1 billion and just under 1000 employees operating from offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong. The company has over 500 active clients worldwide; the company’s fees per consulting engagement range from $1 to $10 million. Only McKinsey amp; Company exceeds Fielder amp; Company’s portfolio of management consulting services targeted toward senior executives of large multinational corporations.

A native of Boston, Mr. Fielder sold his family’s business in agriculture and chemicals in 1985 to launch Fielder amp; Company, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both prominent Boston business innovators who built thriving corporations. Forbes estimates Mr. Fielder’s fortune at $10 billion, putting him in the top 100 of the world’s richest people.

Like many wealthy families, the Fielders are well known for their business success and philanthropy but tirelessly strive to avoid the limelight. According to friends and clients, Mr. Fielder took great pride in The Wall Street Journal’s designation of Fielder amp; Company as “the most secretive consulting firm in America.” Mr. Fielder’s wife Mary and children Wilson and Rachel were unavailable for comment on Sunday evening.

Wilson — Sun Valley, ID

Wilson Fielder powered the SUV through drifting snow to Sun Valley’s city hall and police station, determined to confront the officer who’d charged his father with murder. An hour earlier, he had arrived at the airport and headed straight to the hospital, where his father was lying in a coma. After consulting with the neurosurgeon and attempting to comfort his mother and sister, Wilson had called the Sun Valley police, insisting on a meeting with whoever was in charge of his father’s case.

Once inside the police station Wilson gave his name to a young female constable stationed behind the reception window. His tall athletic body, deep hazel-green eyes, and thick dark hair were the cause of girlish giggles and whispered comments between the young constable and two other women working behind the counter as he took a seat in the waiting area. He was oblivious.

Within moments, Assistant Police Chief John Zemke leaned over the counter. “Fielder?” he said in a loud, brusque voice.

Wilson’s body tensed as he stood up and walked toward the stocky, sunburned detective.

“Come on in,” Zemke said, brushing back his thick, wiry gray-white hair. The fifty-something former LAPD homicide captain, turned Sun Valley detective and ski fanatic, wore elk-skin boots, navy-blue ski pants, and a red sweater. Zemke relished what he did for a living, but valued where he did it even more.

Wilson followed Zemke through the western-style swinging doors into an empty office at the rear of the building. He sat down in front of the detective’s desk, attempting to control his emotions.

“As far as we’re concerned, this case is murder and attempted suicide. We found powder burns on your father’s right hand. His fingerprints were on the murder weapon. A dozen witnesses put him and the two women together during the evening. What else do you want to know?”

“Who were the two women?”

“Probably high-end hookers. We get a lot of them this time of year. They look like sisters: same blood type, same physical features, same expensive jewelry. We don’t know their names yet. They were carrying phony IDs. But we’ll know soon enough.”

Wilson decided to ignore the “hookers” comment for the moment. Zemke might be a jaded macho throwback, but he was nobody’s fool. Wilson could see that from his eyes. “What kind of gun was it?”