This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. 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. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. 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. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. He pulled a gun. Her body was found five weeks later in a King George County creek. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. 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. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. 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. As a result, it should be under $100,000 USD. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Florida Man Arrested After Threatening to Blow Up Homes of Disney Executives, Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. "Why would you do such a thing?" Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. Kristin and Katis bodies were found five days later, and the police reportedly found a strand of Sofias hair on the older Lisk sisters body. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. Evonitz's wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. 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. l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. He was attacked by a police dog and ultimately shot himself while surrounded, rather than face the consequences of his actions. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. [7], On June 24, 2002, Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain from a friend's yard in Columbia, South Carolina, after holding a gun to her head and then forcing her into a plastic bin. 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. 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. Evonitz was suspected of additional killings, and soon before committing suicide, he confessed to his sister to a dozen atrocities. 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. "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". 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. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Screenshot from True Crime Daily YouTube, Teen survives abduction by serial killer, now thrives in law enforcement. 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. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. "He was someone who just blends in. 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 . It's going to be quite extensive.". When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. Later, authorities identified him as the LiskSilva killer. 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. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . To Evonitz, they were scouting expeditions. r/standwithusa 5 min. Because I felt like, Wow, Im actually giving these families something that they never wouldve gotten without me. Just the closure of knowing that the person responsible for their daughters death is no longer here.. He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. 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. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. 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. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . "Mike," she asked, "was Marc really on vacation? In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. 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. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. As she looked at them, he forced her at gunpoint into a green plastic storage container in the car's trunk. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. Richard Marc Evonitz was a devoted spouse who delighted in working with animals and amusing people. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. After his time in the U.S. Navy ended, he settled down in South Carolina and began. "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.. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. By then, Richard had already fled, but Kara could identify the hairbrush with Hopes hair, which became crucial evidence in the investigation. Does She Have Kids. He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Her loyalness was reflected when she disagreed with believing her husband's acts. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". 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. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. Not just that, the teenager mentally noted her kidnappers doctor and dentists contact details posted on the refrigerator. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. Two Richland County deputies and one FBI agent formed a team today that will work full time to reconstruct Evonitz's life. Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram! Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. 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. 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. I just went into survival mode, she told. The footlocker also contained pornographic tapes and many pairs of female underwear, all sizes, from infant to adult. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Downes and other detectives are familiar with the psychological labels that have been attached to Evonitz, terms like bipolar, hebephile, fantasy-driven or psychopath. 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. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. He was married twice. While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders, "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the, And while Evonitz was described by those who knew him as a well-respected, married Navy veteran who. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. 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,, . After Richard Evonitz was discharged from the Navy, the couple moved to Fredericksburg. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. Ultimately, as noted earlier, Kara led detectives to Evonitzs apartment, but he had already fled. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. The notes contained the addresses of two other young girls and descriptions of them, The Associated Press reported. From Evonitz's notes police learned that Kara, his South Carolina victim, was not his first choice that day in June 2002. Later, when he fled from police after Kara's escape, he stole license plates and shaved his goatee to hide his identity. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. What do you think about Karas amazing story? On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 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. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 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. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. This helped the police track down his location. 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. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. He was the first of three children; two sisters, Kristen and Jennifer, followed him in 1968 and 1971. Just consider Richard Evonitz, the serial killer who abducted Kara Robinson, the subject of the new Oxygen special "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Inside the Magic consists of multiple writers & videographers living near both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and around the world. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. Through evidence discovered after Robinsons brave escape, Evonitz was tied to the Silva and Lisk murders. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. He forcefully held Kara in his Yet the water seemed to draw him. Ginny and Georgia star Katie Douglas stars as Kara Robinson. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. The crime took place in September 1996. 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. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. 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. Later, they checked to see if they had overlooked him during their long investigation. Kara Robinson was abducted by serial killer Richard Evonitz from her friend's yard in 2002. I just ran, she said. . In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, reported WISTV.com. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. He had grown arrogant, police said. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. pic.twitter.com/zcsbeDwBv4.
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