Usually, Evonitz was more careful. The secret was out, the monster exposed," Lott said. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. 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,, . Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram! Evonitz was suspected of additional killings, and soon before committing suicide, he confessed to his sister to a dozen atrocities. 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. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. "If he kept everything locked in there, maybe it wouldn't come out again," she said. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? 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. 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. Though Hope does not publicly share many details about herself and has a minimal presence on social media, official records state that she is now in her 40s and resides in West Columbia, South Carolina. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. The 12-year-old Spotsylvania Middle School student played clarinet and hoped to be a cartoonist. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. But that brazen kidnapper, the one operating in the clear light of day, does exist. Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. Who is Vincent Paterno? He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. On June 24, 2002, Richard Evonitz abducted the then-15-year-old Kara Robinson. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. Evonitz made scouting trips and careful notes of what he saw. From 1988 to 1996, Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower, and from 1999 till his death, he was married to Hope Marie Crowley. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. "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. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. After graduating from high school, Evonitz worked as a manager at a Jiffy Lube before enlisting in the US Navy. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Evonitz was cornered by police in Florida where he then killed himself. Lifetime's 'The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story' is a gripping crime thriller movie that delves into the actual harrowing experiences of Kara Robinson. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. Screenshot from True Crime Daily YouTube, Teen survives abduction by serial killer, now thrives in law enforcement. I want to know why he didnt get me.. From Evonitz's notes police learned that Kara, his South Carolina victim, was not his first choice that day in June 2002. She also makes use of TikTokandInstagram where she provides advice on how to heal, how to support, how to speak to victims of crime, and how to embrace a survivor mentality. Her story has also been shared on numerous television shows, including Investigation Discoverys On the Case With Paula Zahn. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. On June 24, 2002, 15-year-old Kara Robinson was at a friends house in Lexington County, South Carolina preparing for a day at the lake. When she's not planning her next Disney trip, Rebekah can be found spending time with her family, shopping for Lilly Pulitzer, buried in a good book, or doing yoga. Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him. WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, WHERE TO WATCH CLEVELAND ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her front porch in Spotsylvania County. Along the way, he called his sister and confessed to killing someone and committing "more crimes than he can remember," according to the Washington Post. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. 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. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. And while Evonitz was described by those who knew him as a well-respected, married Navy veteran who was twice awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the 38-year-old had actually been in trouble with the law before, for masturbating in front of a teen girl, The Washington Post reported. Big Changes Are Coming to Disneys Paid Genie+ Service, Michael Keatons Morbius Role Is an Easter Egg, Inside the Magic Your Ultimate Source for Themed EntertainmentCoverage, Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered, Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Woman Seen Handcuffed at Disneys Hollywood Studios, Iconic Disney Trains Left Brilliantly Vandalized at EPCOT. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Metts said the girl led detectives to the apartment and picked Evonitz out of a photo array. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. He pulled a gun. Tess Ragin had been told of her son's vacation but did not believe it. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz (July 29, 1963 June 27, 2002) was an American serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three teenaged girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. 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. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. "He was someone who just blends in. By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. In the past few years, he returned to South Carolina and recently moved into a small garden apartment with his 19-year-old wife. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. Please subscribe to keep reading. No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. Evonitz, 38, said he had killed someone and that he had committed "more crimes than he can remember," Richland County, S.C., Sheriff Leon Lott said today. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . She and other family members met with police the next morning at the Richland County police headquarters. At the police station, she spotted Evonitz's supervisor, Mike Augustine of Armstrong Compressors. 0. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. The man behind the wheel was Richard (Marc) Evonitz, 38, who was prowling the neighborhood for his next victim after murdering three girls Sofia Silva, 16, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12 years earlier. According to the Washington Post, he contacted his sister along the way and confessed to killing someone and committed more crimes than he can recall.. In an August 2002 interview, the young widow stated, He was my husband, he is still my husband, and I love him dearly. Once the investigation concluded, Hope chose to remain in South Carolina and stood by her husbands family following his death. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet The Free Lance Star reported in 2002. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? Read More:Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. I didnt look back for a second. Robinson sprinted toward a car in the parking lot and pleaded with the people inside to bring her to the police station. Yet the water seemed to draw him. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. 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. Two days after Robinsons bold escape, she found out that Evonitz had killed himself. He was attacked by a police dog and ultimately shot himself while surrounded, rather than face the consequences of his actions. According to the New York Daily News, Evonitz pulled up and began conversing with her under the guise of selling magazines, before brandishing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. She was. He had urges but he could control them. As a result, it should be under $100,000 USD. On September 9, 1996, Silva, a 16-year-old who had dreams of going to cosmetology school, sat on her family's doorstep doing homework when . "Of all the people in my 24 years that I've ever investigated, he's probably the most evil," said Dempsey of the King George Sheriff's Office. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. But perhaps that pain will be bearable if these newly revealed facts help us to understand how a man capable of performing these misdeeds could live among us. Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. This helped the police track down his location. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. 2d ago The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. 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. Later, when he fled from police after Kara's escape, he stole license plates and shaved his goatee to hide his identity. Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. 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. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. But what happened to the man who abducted her? Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. After his time in the U.S. Navy ended, he settled down in South Carolina and began. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the majority of children are abducted by someone they know. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. They will interview friends, co-workers and relatives and track Evonitz's frequent travels from state to state in a search for links to similar unsolved crimes in those areas. Pic- survivor Kara Robinson Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 was a serial killer, kidnapper andrapistresponsible for the deaths of three girls inSpotsylvania County, Virginiaand the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl inRichland County, S.Carolina. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Marie Crowly, his wife, couldnt believe her husband was a criminal. This four-part series is based on interviews with investigators and members of Evonitzs family, and a review of public documents from Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Later, authorities identified him as the LiskSilva killer. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) was an American serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three teenaged girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. But inside Evonitz's apartment, detectives found a Fredericksburg, Va., newspaper from the day after the Lisk abductions and notes about the girls, along with directions to a location near their home. 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. Investigators soon found evidence that Evonitz was responsible for the murders of three girls in Virginia: Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, the Associated Press reported at the time. 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. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. She freed herself from the constraints Evonitz placed on her while he slept before escaping. She reported the matter to the Richland County Sheriffs Department and took them back to his apartment complex, where a maintenance man helped them identify the residence. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. I was really, really angry, she told producers. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/ReutersAlex Murdaugh, the once-prominent member of a legal dynasty in South Carolina's Lowcountry, has been convicted of murdering his wife and son in June 2021.Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of all four counts against him on Thursday in connection with the deaths of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, near the . Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. On September 9, 1996, Evonitz kidnapped 16-year-old Sofia Silva from the front steps of her house in Virginia. There is not any information on how he spent his early day. Based on the evidence collected from his apartment, the police concluded that he had killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati and intended to do the same with Kara. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. Does She Have Kids. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. There were additional guns, ropes, and other murder equipment discovered, as well as notes indicating that Evonitz was on the lookout for other victims. The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. By then, Richard had already fled, but Kara could identify the hairbrush with Hopes hair, which became crucial evidence in the investigation. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. PRIVACY POLICY. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. He had grown arrogant, police said. Today, 19 years after her harrowing ordeal, Kara Robinson Chamberlain is married with two sons -- and 219,700 fans on TikTok, where she seeks to spread hope and encouragement to other survivors, she notes at kararobinsonchamberlain.com. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. 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. Once the officers accompanied the 15-year-old to the apartment complex, a maintenance worker pointed them to Richards apartment. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. 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, wrote the New York Daily News. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. He was married twice. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. But she changed her routine that Monday. Her decomposed body was found five weeks later in a creek in King George, Virginia, yet the police could not comprehend the cause of death and the killers identity. A WARNING: Evonitz's sexual obsessions are key to understanding him. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. Richard Evonitz. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz.