Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. Their bodies were found five days later. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. 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. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. When he kidnapped Kara, he was married to his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, and she unknowingly played a crucial role in helping the teenager identify Richard. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. Who is Vincent Paterno? [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. A high-speed car chase followed to catch Richard, resulting in him running over spike strips on the highway and being attacked by a police dog. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist, serial murderer, and kidnapper who murdered three small children in Richland County, South Carolina, then kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old female. Watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Tale for more information on this case and Robinsons story. Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. 'The Monster' Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist and a stalker, and he may be worse. 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. But his crimes were "high-risk," in the sense that he abducted victims from busy suburban neighborhoods in the middle of the day. At the police station, she spotted Evonitz's supervisor, Mike Augustine of Armstrong Compressors. Officials said he has no other known criminal convictions. "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. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. 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. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. ago. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Kara Robinsons Story Comes Up In Law Enforcement Career, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma, Kara Robinson Didnt Want People to Feel Sorry for Her, 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, she told. 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. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Have something to tell us about this article? Three days after kidnapping Robinson, authorities caught up to Evonitz in Florida and a high-speed ensued, ending when Evonitz shot himself and died. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. The image of the shadowy stranger snatching children in broad daylight made a lasting impact on the collective consciousness, but the truth is stranger abductions are very rare. He filed for bankruptcy in 1997, unable to keep up with bills following a divorce, and had a house foreclosed in 1999 following a failed business venture, but at the time of his death, Evonitz had been working at an air-compressor company since moving to South Carolina a few years earlier. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. 2d ago she asked. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. LIKE BLUEBEARD, the character in the old European fable, Marc Evonitz had a secret life hidden behind lock and key. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. You can cancel at any time. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. . Silva, a 16-year-old with ambitions of attending cosmetology school, was doing homework on her familys doorway on September 9, 1996, when Evonitz abducted her. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. He was a stranger to them. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Gower and Evonitz had been neighbors in Columbia and she was a friend of his younger sister. Only when he was ready did the safe Henry Jekyll become the wicked Edward Hyde. "Why would you do such a thing?" The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott describes Evonitz's particular compulsion as "The Monster." 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. He forced her to watch the evening news to see if there was a report of her kidnapping. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a kidnapping survivor, now reaches thousands of viewers on TikTok with her advice about overcoming trauma. 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?'. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. Richard Marc Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and the abduction and rape of a 15 year old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. "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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. He had urges but he could control them. Now, if you wish to learn more about Hope, heres what we found! Today, 19 years after her harrowing ordeal, Kara Robinson Chamberlain is married with two sons -- and 219,700 fans on, , where she seeks to spread hope and encouragement to other survivors, she notes at. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. In the past few years, he returned to South Carolina and recently moved into a small garden apartment with his 19-year-old wife. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. 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. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. This helped the police track down his location. None of it contained telling DNA evidence. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. . Lott declined to say what details have led him to believe that Evonitz was not referring to the Lisk slayings when he talked to his sister. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. Stranger abductions are extremely rare, yet the image of a mysterious stranger taking children in broad daylight has left an indelible impression on the public mind. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. 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. Years later, while on the run in South Carolina, he told his sister Kristen that he had abducted and raped a 15-year-old girl, as police charged. 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. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. 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. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. It's going to be quite extensive.". On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. "No signs of the monster.". For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarah's . Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. That was how he planned it. 0. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. Now, if you wish to know more about the murders Richard committed and his current whereabouts, we have you covered. I want to know why he didnt get me.. 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, she told Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, a two-hour Oxygen special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. 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. Guns, ropes, and other tools for murder were also found, as were notes that signaled Evonitz had his eye on other potential victims. The case was first regarded as a missing person case rather than an abduction until Silva was discovered dead in a marsh five weeks later. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. 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. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. 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. They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. She was reportedly 17 years old. When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. 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. 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. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. At the time of Karas abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitzs wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. [2], In January 1987, Evonitz exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Spotsylvania woman, 29, killed in crash Thursday morning, Woman pleads guilty to bashing former roommate with bat, Police cite medical emergency in Spotsylvania crash, Spotsylvania approves rezoning, making way for 'techno campus', Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Virginia aerialist wins 'Americas Got Talent: All Stars', New commuter bus routes coming to Fredericksburg area, Spotsylvania man convicted after being caught in child pornography sting, KFC is bringing back a fan favorite after a nearly 10-year hiatus, Spotsylvania schools' new chief of staff will be "legislative liaison" for school division, Spotsylvania School Board member charged with forgery, Virginia State Police seek public's help in fatal crash investigation, Spotsylvania man convicted of felony in driveway shooting, Archived Lisk-Silva stories from June 2002 through present, Archived Lisk-Silva stories from April 2001 through June 2002. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story,.

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