They had all gone missing in Spotsylvania County, Va., more than five years before Karas abduction. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. From 1988 to 1996, Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower, and from 1999 till his death, he was married to Hope Marie Crowley. She was. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. . Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. A WARNING: Evonitz's sexual obsessions are key to understanding him. It's going to be quite extensive.". Once the officers accompanied the 15-year-old to the apartment complex, a maintenance worker pointed them to Richards apartment. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. It's never been determined if Evonitz was responsible for more than three murders. PRIVACY POLICY. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! She was reportedly 17 years old. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. He had at least two handguns, a plastic tub for his victims, a pair of handcuffs that he reinforced with wire, and a 2-by-4 with ropes and eyebolts that he used for bondage. But what happened to the man who abducted her? 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. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Tess Ragin had been told of her son's vacation but did not believe it. 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. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. There is no information available on how many of the assets he actually possesses. 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. Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. Does She Have Kids? When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. Only when he was ready did the safe Henry Jekyll become the wicked Edward Hyde. : r/standwithusa. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. Nevertheless, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and moved into a small garden apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. There is not any information on how he spent his early day. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. The 16-year-old Courtland High junior wanted to go to cosmetology school and loved the color purple. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. November 18, 2021 . Both bodies were found five days later in a river. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. By then, Richard had already fled, but Kara could identify the hairbrush with Hopes hair, which became crucial evidence in the investigation. He had grown arrogant, police said. He was the first of three children; two sisters, Kristen and Jennifer, followed him in 1968 and 1971. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . His first wife was Bonnie Lou Gower and his second wife was Hope Marie Crowley. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. 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. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. I wanted to gather as much information as I could to figure out where I was and who he was to identify him later., Related:Iconic Disney Trains Left Brilliantly Vandalized at EPCOT. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Read More: Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? 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. She was reportedly 17 years old. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. They could not determine if it had been stolen or purchased. Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16. "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. Hope Evonitz rode with her husband on some of these trips. "Mike," she asked, "was Marc really on vacation? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. In 2002, the 15-year-olds life took a devastating turn after being abducted by Richard Evonitz from her friends home in Columbia, South Carolina. 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. On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 'The Monster' Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist and a stalker, and he may be worse. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. He was trolling for potential victims and the best places to dispose of their bodies. "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. But Evonitz eventually fell asleep, and Robinson was able to slip out of her restraints and make a run for it. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. He took her to his apartment, tied her, and forced her to smoke marijuana before repeatedly raping her for the next eighteen hours. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. What do you think about Karas amazing story? The Associated Press stated at the time that investigators quickly discovered proof that Evonitz was responsible for the killings of three girls in Virginia: Sofia Silva, 16, Kristin Lisk, and her sister Kati Lisk. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. 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. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. We don't want to rush things. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. In 2002, the 15-year-old's life took a devastating flip after being kidnapped by Richard Evonitz from her good pal's dwelling in Columbia, South Carolina. That was two years ago. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " 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. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. I just went into survival mode, she told. The crime took place in September 1996. When 15-year-old Kara Robinson arrived at the Richland County Sheriffs Department on June 25, 2022, little did the police expect that she would lead them to a serial killer. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. 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 . While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders,according to the Free Lance Star. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. 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.. 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. Based on Karas testimony and the evidence obtained from the apartment, the police began tracking Richard and located him in Sarasota, Florida. Elizabeth Smart serves as an executive producer.[10]. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. After gagging her, he repeatedly raped Kara over the next eighteen hours and forced her to smoke marijuana. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. 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 . However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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. [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. Does She Have Kids. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. For more on this case and Robinson's story, watch"Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". Her body was found five weeks later in a King George County creek. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. 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. 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 used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. Kara was forced into a storage bin, where she amazingly kept her wits about her, remembering the turns the vehicle, a green Pontiac Firebird, took and even memorizing the storage bins serial number. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. The New York Daily News said that investigators thought the deaths were related to Silvas. Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. Just consider Richard Evonitz, the serial killer who abducted Kara Robinson, the subject of the new Oxygen special "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". Kara said the driver didnt seem creepy or scary as he approached her and asked if her parents were home. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. They hadn't. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. . By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. Does She Have Kids? In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. 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. He was a stranger to them. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. You can cancel at any time. 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.