Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. On June 24, 2002, Robinson, then 15, was watering the plants at a friend's home in Colombia, South Carolina, when her friend went inside. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. She was reportedly 17 years old. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. 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. Evonitz may have gone on in his life if not for the 15-year-old he spotted as she was watering flowers in a friend's Lexington County yard June 24. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. 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. From 1988 to 1996, Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower, and from 1999 till his death, he was married to Hope Marie Crowley. They could not determine if it had been stolen or purchased. 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. They had all gone missing in Spotsylvania County, Va., more than five years before Karas abduction. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her front porch in Spotsylvania County. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Have something to tell us about this article? It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. 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 . 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. In the past few years, he returned to South Carolina and recently moved into a small garden apartment with his 19-year-old wife. Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. In his secret footlocker police found scraps of paper, old envelopes, anything he could find, on which he had written directions to potential victims' houses and descriptions of young girls. "Why would you do such a thing?" Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Salary, Wiki, Bio, Why did FedEx fire him. Please subscribe to keep reading. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. 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. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. When she explained that her friends mum wasnt home, Evonitz moved closer and said he was handing out brochures. Just consider Richard Evonitz, the serial killer who abducted Kara Robinson, the subject of the new Oxygen special "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. 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. She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. In the two years since his death, federal, state and local investigators have tried to link Evonitz to other crimes, compiling an inch-thick timeline of his life. The footlocker also contained a white dress shirt, carefully folded. What they won't do is excuse him. 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. When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. After an 18-hour ordeal, the girl heard Evonitz snoring and was able to escape, authorities said. Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. 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. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet The Free Lance Star reported in 2002. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. 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. 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. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. By then, Richard had already fled, but Kara could identify the hairbrush with Hopes hair, which became crucial evidence in the investigation. The couple was in Mexico to celebrate Silva's 40th birthday when Gere was diagnosed with . At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. The New York Daily News said that investigators thought the deaths were related to Silvas. Nevertheless, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and moved into a small garden apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. . Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. Youve undoubtedly heard of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Dennis Rader, Richard Ramirez, and Eileen Wuornos some of the most well-known serial killers in American history but there are also less well-publicized serial murderers, and one of them has a bizarre Disney connection. Evonitz made scouting trips and careful notes of what he saw. Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. We're going to take our time. 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. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, reported WISTV.com. she asked. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. He had urges but he could control them. 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. Police initially treated it as a missing persons case instead of an abduction -- until Silva was found about five weeks later, dead in a swamp. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. 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. 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. 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. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. . 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. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. 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. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Inside the pocket was trace evidence that connected Evonitz to the Lisk sisters. "But with us, there was a level of trust. Richard had separated from his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1996 and was considerably older than Hope. He had grown arrogant, police said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. Evonitz reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. Next year, the FBI will invite law enforcement officers from places where Evonitz lived or traveled to be part of an investigators working group in Quantico. "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. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. Her loyalness was reflected when she disagreed with believing her husband's acts. He was the first of three children; two sisters, Kristen and Jennifer, followed him in 1968 and 1971. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. 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. At the police station, she spotted Evonitz's supervisor, Mike Augustine of Armstrong Compressors. I want to know why he didnt get me.. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Authorities apprehended Evonitz in Florida three days after he kidnapped Robinson, and a high-speed chase occurred, culminating with Evonitz shooting himself and dying. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. 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. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. 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. "No signs of the monster.". Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. That was how he planned it. "He was someone who just blends in. 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. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS. 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. November 18, 2021 . While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. His first wife was Bonnie Lou Gower and his second wife was Hope Marie Crowley. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. 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. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the majority of children are abducted by someone they know. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. You can cancel at any time. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! by Competitive-Club4848. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. 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. 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 In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. 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. 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. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? Robinson escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders,according to the Free Lance Star. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. 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. 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. As she looked at them, he forced her at gunpoint into a green plastic storage container in the car's trunk. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170. : r/standwithusa. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. It's going to be quite extensive.". He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". 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.