And now, another in a series of hard news stories related to what we see as a growing epidemic – a wave of crime sweeping across the broadcasting industry. These gritty tales of the darkside of the media nationwide, and the players behind these despicable acts, will appear as details become available. All details will remain UNCENSORED.
Lincoln, Nebraska police arrested a man August 16th who they believe tried to rob a U.S. Bank branch last month by passing a note through the drive-through lane. James Fitzsimmons, 57, left without taking anything, but the note he passed a teller July 29 claimed there were gunmen inside and bombs that could be exploded remotely inside the bank. Court documents say he instructed the teller to place money in the bag and to not call police. No weapons or explosives were found, and no one was injured. Fitzsimmons left without money, heading south in an older-model, four-door white vehicle with a sunroof and Ohio plates.
On Aug. 3, officers learned Fitzsimmons’ wife had gone to the bank driving the same car. A search warrant of the couple’s home revealed evidence from the bank, but court documents don’t say what evidence was found. Fitzsimmons was charged with attempted robbery. A Lancaster County Court Judge set his bond to $100,000.
Fitzsimmons is the former program director for Mix 107.7 WMMX in Dayton, Ohio. Fitzsimmons, who was known as Randy James at the time, was the off-the-air program director for Mix 107.7 WMMX from 1991-94.
In March 2013, he was program director for contemporary Christian WAKW (STAR 93 3) in Cincinnati when he announced his resignation to launch his new media company, TRUTH2VALUE.
According to allaccess.com, Fitzsimmons developed WAKW, Christian radio’s first Hot Adult Contemporary/Top 40 hybrid.
Fitzsimmons also is accused of faking his death in 2015.
Word of his presumed demise prompted Jerry Del Colliano, a writer for the “Inside Music Media” blog who described himself as a friend, to post an item in February of that year about Fitzsimmons. The headline reads “Randy James Fitzsimmons, R.I.P.”
“Randy was terminal according to Mayo doctors and left Scottsdale after lunch to drive to Oregon, a state where assisted suicide is legal,” Del Colliano wrote. “But when I went to bed late Tuesday night (early Wednesday morning). I did not yet see his final email to me sent at 3:06 a.m. Arizona time that said ‘Goodbye. You’ve been a good friend Doc. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to say goodbye now, so please tell my story.’ “
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