Police found her body in a pond weeks later. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16 and was known as Marc. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. "Why would you do such a thing?" But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the The Free Lance-Star, according to the AP report. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Life is imitating art in East Palestine, Ohio, as the aftermath of a derailed train is drawing parallels with Netflix's White Noise. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. Does She Have Kids? Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. On June 27, 2002, police finally caught up with him in Florida, where he led them on a high-speed chase, and finally cornered him,, . None of it contained telling DNA evidence. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. In broad daylight, Robinson was abducted by a stranger who had pulled up in his car and approached her, ostensibly to hand her some magazines . Does She Have Kids. In Columbia, he worked at an air compressor company and lived blissfully with Hope, who doted on him. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a kidnapping survivor, now reaches thousands of viewers on TikTok with her advice about overcoming trauma. When he abducted Kara, he did so only after placing his wife and mother on a plane for Walt Disney World. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Actually, he, too, had taken a week's vacation, a secret break. After graduating from high school, Evonitz worked as a manager at a Jiffy Lube before enlisting in the US Navy. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. Furthermore, the police found a lockbox containing news clippings and notes related to Kati, Kristin, and Sofias murders, along with writings mentioning the locations near their houses. As Spotsylvania detectives await results of DNA and other scientific tests to determine whether Evonitz killed Sofia Silva, 16, in September 1996, and Kati Lisk, 12, and her sister, Kristin, 15, in May 1997, investigators are just now beginning to piece together the past of this seemingly normal man -- a husband who was twice awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal during an eight-year service career -- to see if he really was a lifelong predator who kept his crimes secret. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. After graduating high school and briefly working as a Manager for Jiffy Lube, he joined the Navy. Downes, the FBI profiler, is a resident of Spotsylvania who joined what would become the Lisk/Silva task force in 1996, one day after Sofia Silva's disappearance. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. So he deviated from his plan. I wasn't going to breach that.". In 1996, Gower left Evonitz for a man in California. In 1987 he ran into trouble with the law when he exposed himself to a 15-year-old girl and he was arrested one month later when his ship . By matching the countless DNA samples found in Richards apartment and car with the ones found on his three victims, the investigators concluded that he was the one who had murdered them years ago and intended to do the same with Kara. An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: LIKE BLUEBEARD, the character in the old European fable, Marc Evonitz had a secret life hidden behind lock and key. richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. Three days after kidnapping Robinson, authorities caught up to Evonitz in Florida and a high-speed ensued, ending when Evonitz shot himself and died. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a murderer, though he did allegedly confess to his sister just prior to his death. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. The 12-year-old Spotsylvania Middle School student played clarinet and hoped to be a cartoonist. It's never been determined if Evonitz was responsible for more than three murders. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. On May 1, 1997, Richard kidnapped 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kathryn Kati Lisk, from their front lawn after school. Was it some sort of uniform that he wore when committing his crimes? She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. On May 1, 1997, the sisters vanished from their yard. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She freed herself from the constraints Evonitz placed on her while he slept before escaping. On June 24, 2002, 15-year-old Kara Robinson was at a friend's house in Lexington County, South Carolina preparing for a day at the lake. PRIVACY POLICY. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a. He pulled a gun. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. . This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. She and other family members met with police the next morning at the Richland County police headquarters. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. She joined The Post in 1997 as a two-year intern covering policing and courts in Loudoun County, Va. She later covered local and national education. But that brazen kidnapper, the one operating in the clear light of day, does exist. "But with us, there was a level of trust. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. He had urges but he could control them. When Kara Robinson escaped her captor, Richard Evonitz, she helped police uncover a serial killer. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. In Spotsylvania, Maj. Howard Smith said the Lisk-Silva Task Force -- composed of FBI agents, state police and Spotsylvania and King George County deputies -- has been doubled in size and also will try to learn "everything this guy has done in the last 10 or 15 years.". ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. They have not said whether they found similar evidence about the Silva killing, but they have previously said that scientific evidence links the two cases. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. Kristen and Jennifer, his two daughters, were born in 1968 and 1971, respectively, and he was the first of three children. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. On September 9, 1996, Evonitz kidnapped 16-year-old Sofia Silva from the front steps of her house in Virginia. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. Just consider Richard Evonitz, the serial killer who abducted Kara Robinson, the subject of the new Oxygen special "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram! Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. Robinson was able to free herself while Evonitz was sound asleep, escape, and identify her abductor to the police using information she was able to find on Evonitz's fridge. . I knew if I woke him up and wasnt successful [in getting out] that would probably be when I would get hurt, and when his sadistic nature would kick in [she feared being shot in the back]., Related:Florida Man Arrested After Threatening to Blow Up Homes of Disney Executives. The pursuit of Evonitz began when the 15-year-old he kidnapped at gunpoint managed to escape from handcuffs and slip out of his apartment in Columbia on Tuesday morning. Once the officers accompanied the 15-year-old to the apartment complex, a maintenance worker pointed them to Richards apartment. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. Now, if you wish to know more about the murders Richard committed and his current whereabouts, we have you covered. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. In one swift movement, she moved the items [that were blocking the doorway], shoved the vacuum cleaner into the closet and slammed it shut, opened the front door and ran out. Inside were trophies so damning that he risked all to retain them. Evonitz took the girl to his apartment, where they were alone because his wife and mother were vacationing at Walt Disney World, and carried the container inside. As he drove from his South Carolina home to Georgia and into Florida last week, Richard Evonitz knew he was only a few steps ahead of police trying to arrest him in the rape of a 15-year-old. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. He would not be able to join them, he said, because he had to work. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. Created in 2005, what started as a tiny central Florida-based website and short weekly podcast that allowed our audience to visit Walt Disney World virtually has grown into the publishing company it is today. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. Richard T. EvonitzRichard Thomas Evonitz, 73, of Fredericksburg died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at his residence surrounded by his family.Survivors include his wife, Barbara Evonitz; son Richard W. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. He was a stranger to them. We don't want to rush things. Throughout her multi-day abduction, Kara gained her captors trust by learning details about him, including: finding out he was in the Navy, memorizing the addresses of his dentist and doctor from magnets on his fridge, and realizing a woman lived in the apartment with him. Inside his apartment they found a locked foot-locker with newspaper clippings about the unsolved murders of three girls: Sofia Silva and sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Inside the Magic. He took her to his home before raping her repeatedly, then tied her to the bed before falling asleep, allowing her to the opportunity to escape and alert authorities. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. She suffered a panic attack when Evonitz put her back in the container while he called his wife, who was at Walt Disney World with his mother. After two days, Kara launched her daring escape while Evonitz slept: Kara said: There was a solid 30 seconds of me looking at the door and thinking, how am I going to do this?'. r/standwithusa 5 min. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. Read More:Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? This helped the police track down his location. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. Evonitz mentioned only scant details about that killing, but it was enough to determine that he was not referring to the slayings of three Spotsylvania County, Va., girls, Lott said. However, unknown to her and their family, Richard had a sinister side and abducted, raped, and murdered three young girls between 1996 and 1997 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. After an 18-hour ordeal, the girl heard Evonitz snoring and was able to escape, authorities said. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. You can cancel at any time. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. Each week investigators from the FBI, the Virginia State Police and at least two local sheriff's offices met at the FBI office in Fredericksburg to plot strategy. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Members of the task force have tracked down some of the tag numbers he mentioned in notes and will be interviewing their owners to see if anyone remembers seeing him. She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. At the time of Karas abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitzs wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Per the article, Kara said, From that moment I kind of realized that he would probably not let me go and it would be up to me to get out and escape. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 At the time of Kara's abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitz's wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. : r/standwithusa. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. Nevertheless, the detectives found a big locker in the apartment containing several news clippings related to Silvia, Kristin, and Katis unsolved murders. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. His mother described the moment she realized he had betrayed her: With her son on the run, she returned from Disney World to her home in Columbia. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. 2d ago The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Robinson spoke to Elizabeth Smart from Crime Watch Daily about her kidnapping and how she managed to escape Evonitzs clutches and helped the police catch him. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. Lifetimes The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story is a gripping crime thriller movie that delves into the actual harrowing experiences of Kara Robinson. The information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. "End of Trial Fails To End Uncertainty; Family Seeks Justice in '96 Va. Killings, While Man Wants to Clear His Name" Washington Post, September 4, 2005 Ian Shapira and Maria Glod, List of serial killers in the United States, "As Police Closed In, Evonitz Admitted Crimes to Sister", "Lifetime Partners Again with Elizabeth Smart on "The Kara Robinson Story", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Evonitz&oldid=1142021837, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Spotsylvania Serial killer, Lisk/Silva Killer, Bonnie Lou Gower (1988-1996), Hope Marie Crowley (1999-his death), This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 03:03. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something.