Courtney Fischer, a prominent reporter and anchor at ABC 13 Houston, has left her role without any public explanation, leaving viewers surprised and seeking answers.
Fischer’s sudden departure is part of a broader wave of exits from ABC 13 this month, including longtime morning anchor Jacob Rascon and a veteran photojournalist, Mail Online reported.
Fischer, an Emmy-winning journalist and creator of a popular true-crime series, had worked with the station since 2015. She contributed to ABC 13 by creating "Unsolved," a Hulu series on cold cases, and producing the station's Texas True Crime documentaries. Despite her high-profile work, Fischer made no public acknowledgment of her exit on her social media platforms, sparking curiosity about her next steps.
Houston blogger Mike McGuff first reported the news of Fischer’s departure. He revealed that she is transitioning to a new role with Harris County, though the details of this position remain unclear.
Fischer has defined her career through her dedication to storytelling, particularly in true crime. On her LinkedIn profile, she described her work as having a singular mission: to remember the lives of those who are missing or murdered while their families search for answers.
Originally from Chicago, Fischer has made Houston her home for years, living in The Heights with her husband, young son, and Pomeranian. Her unexpected exit has left viewers wondering what lies ahead for the journalist who has become a familiar face in the morning news.
Fischer’s exit comes just a week after Jacob Rascon, another ABC 13 morning anchor, announced his departure. Rascon had been with the station for nearly three years, anchoring several key time slots and working alongside his father, Art Rascon, in the 11 a.m. newscast.
Jacob Rascon had joined ABC 13 after a stint as a political correspondent for NBC News, where he covered the 2016 presidential election. His return to Houston News allowed him to balance his career and family life better, a choice he spoke about candidly in the past.
“I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t need to be there,” Rascon told the Houston Chronicle in 2018, reflecting on his time as a national correspondent. “I was happy, but I didn’t need it.”
In interviews, Rascon discussed the personal sacrifices often required in broadcast journalism, particularly for national correspondents. “Some people need it—it’s an addiction. Big story after big story at the expense of family,” he noted, adding that few correspondents manage to juggle the demands of work with family life.
Rascon’s tenure at ABC 13 included launching the "First at 4 a.m." newscast and working closely with his father. The collaboration, he said, was unplanned but meaningful. “People ask how we orchestrated being at the same station, but we didn’t,” Rascon remarked in an earlier interview.
Adding to the shake-up at ABC 13, photojournalist Mike Menchaca retired recently after more than 30 years with the station. His retirement, alongside the departures of Fischer and Rascon, highlights a period of significant change for the station.
ABC 13 has yet to comment on Fischer’s or Rascon’s departures, and the reasons for this wave of exits remain unclear. However, the changes come at a time when viewers are increasingly relying on familiar faces to deliver news amidst an evolving media landscape.
The departures of Fischer and Rascon mark the end of significant chapters in their respective careers. While both journalists appear to be moving on to new opportunities, their absence will undoubtedly leave a gap in ABC 13’s programming lineup.
For now, viewers are left with speculation. What’s next for Fischer at Harris County? And how will ABC 13 adjust to these recent high-profile departures? Only time will tell as the story continues to develop.
