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. "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. Officials said he has no other known criminal convictions. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. He filed for bankruptcy in 1997 after a divorce left him unable to pay his expenses, and the property was foreclosed on in 1999 after a failed business endeavor, although Evonitz had been working at an air-compressor firm since moving to South Carolina a few years before his death. I just ran, she said. At the time of Karas abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitzs wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Hope Marie Evonitz (ne Crowley) was utterly devastated by her husbands death and the shocking revelations made by the police, yet she refused to believe he had done anything wrong. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. That was two years ago. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. Inside the pocket was trace evidence that connected Evonitz to the Lisk sisters. Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story,. 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. A serial killer abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson in 2002, forced her into his vehicle and restrained her inside his Columbia, South Carolina, home.. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. 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. He forced her to watch the evening news to see if there was a report of her kidnapping. The crime took place in September 1996. This helped the police track down his location. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Marie Crowly, his wife, couldnt believe her husband was a criminal. 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. Does She Have Kids? Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. "I just wanted him to sit across from me and look in my eyes, she said, and know that picking me was the greatest mistake he ever made.. But she changed her routine that Monday. 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. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. 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 . An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. 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. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. A WARNING: Evonitz's sexual obsessions are key to understanding him. Related: 'Mandalorian' Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. 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. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. 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. 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. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. The secret was out, the monster exposed," Lott said. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. Police think while his 20-year-old wife was on vacation, Mr. Evonitz kidnapped a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint on June 24, forced her to his vehicle, drove her to his Columbia apartment and. "He was someone who just blends in. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. South Carolina kidnapping survivor Kara Robinson reveals tips for According to the Associated Press, one of the females depicted in the notes told The Free Lance-Star, Its sort of alarming that this person was out there staring at me. Im curious as to why he didnt see me. There were additional guns, ropes, and other murder equipment discovered, as well as notes indicating that Evonitz was on the lookout for other victims. Credit: Disney. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. 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. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. In 1996, Gower left Evonitz for a man in California. EXCLUSIVE: Kara Robinson Chamberlain was 15 when serial killer Richard Evonitz kidnapped her at gunpoint and took her back to his home while his wife was at Walt Disney World She would have recognized the souvenir. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. Police are not sure. They could not determine if it had been stolen or purchased. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. Deep within some of the tapes were scenes that Evonitz recorded. 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. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. Her loyalness was reflected when she disagreed with believing her husband's acts. 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. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. Richard Evonitz - Crime Museum On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. I was really, really angry, she told producers. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the majority of children are abducted by someone they know. Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. Two days after Robinsons bold escape, she found out that Evonitz had killed himself. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. 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. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. Not just that, the teenager mentally noted her kidnappers doctor and dentists contact details posted on the refrigerator. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. The footlocker also contained a white dress shirt, carefully folded. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. The last days of Richard Marc Evonitz, suspect in the Lisk-Silva slayings Evonitz made scouting trips and careful notes of what he saw. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. 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. 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. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. I just went into survival mode, she told. [4], Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday, Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? A few days later, they were found dead in a river. Their continuing work has unlocked some of the mystery that surrounds the man: the why behind his crimes, and the nature and extent of his dangerous perversions. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. After graduating from high school, Evonitz worked as a manager at a Jiffy Lube before enlisting in the US Navy. Read More: Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. 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. Police were puzzled by the underwear. "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. "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. As Police Closed In, Evonitz Admitted Crimes to His Sister Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 Richard had separated from his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1996 and was considerably older than Hope. 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. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " 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. On June 24, 2002, Richard Evonitz abducted the then-15-year-old Kara Robinson. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. . Does She Have Kids. Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Salary, Wiki, Bio, Why did FedEx fire him. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. Friend: Suspected killer not a monster - starnewsonline.com Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 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, S.Carolina. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. Moreover, Richard admitted that he often had uncontrollable sexual urges and would look for and target teenage girls. Evonitz was suspected of additional killings, and soon before committing suicide, he confessed to his sister to a dozen atrocities. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. Police records in Clay County say he "confessed both orally and written to his guilt. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. By the time he died, he had progressed from indecent exposure to murder. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. r/standwithusa 5 min. Once the police closed in on him on June 27, a high-speed car chase followed, ending with him shooting himself dead to avoid arrest. richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope - k12boost.com She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. As a result, it should be under $100,000 USD. She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. 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. California judge faces review for handcuffing 13-year-old in court 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. 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 did not have any children with either wives. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. 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,, . Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 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. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Hope Evonitz rode with her husband on some of these trips. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. 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. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. He was a stranger to them. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Serial Killer Abducted Victim While Wife Was at Walt Disney World Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. 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 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. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. 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 . You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. "Why would you do such a thing?" Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. Sofia Silva//Image Credit: RTL Zwei In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Lifetime brought The Kara Robinson Story to screens this February, a chilling true crime story of how a teenager escaped the clutches of serial killer Richard Evonitz. Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. Lifetimes thriller movie The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story chronicles how Kara courageously escaped her captors home after being abducted and assaulted for eighteen hours, eventually helping the police identify him and his past crimes. You can cancel at any time. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? : r 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. But Evonitz eventually fell asleep, and Robinson was able to slip out of her restraints and make a run for it. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him.
