His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. A WARNING: Evonitz's sexual obsessions are key to understanding him. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Who is Vincent Paterno? Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Evonitz was cornered by police in Florida where he then killed himself. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? In Spotsylvania, Maj. Howard Smith said the Lisk-Silva Task Force -- composed of FBI agents, state police and Spotsylvania and King George County deputies -- has been doubled in size and also will try to learn "everything this guy has done in the last 10 or 15 years.". (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). For more on this case and Robinson's story, watch"Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. Richard Marc Evonitz was a devoted spouse who delighted in working with animals and amusing people. To Evonitz, they were scouting expeditions. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. 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. After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. She freed herself from the constraints Evonitz placed on her while he slept before escaping. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. 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. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. by Competitive-Club4848. 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 Evonitz kidnapped her. 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. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. 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. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her front porch in Spotsylvania County. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. But his crimes were "high-risk," in the sense that he abducted victims from busy suburban neighborhoods in the middle of the day. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. "But with us, there was a level of trust. 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. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. 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 reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. 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. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. And while Evonitz was described by those who knew him as a well-respected, married Navy veteran who 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. Now, if you wish to learn more about Hope, heres what we found! Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? 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. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16. "Mike," she asked, "was Marc really on vacation? Evonitz was suspected of additional killings, and soon before committing suicide, he confessed to his sister to a dozen atrocities. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. pic.twitter.com/zcsbeDwBv4. . 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 girl. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. "He would not even discuss it with her," said Capt. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. 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. "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. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Created in 2005, what started as a tiny central Florida-based website and short weekly podcast that allowed our audience to visit Walt Disney World virtually has grown into the publishing company it is today. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. After graduating high school and briefly working as a Manager for Jiffy Lube, he joined the Navy. The sisters disappeared from their yard on May 1, 1997. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. 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. Serial killer, Richard Marc Evonitz, killed himself while surrounded by police in June 2002. Kara said the driver didnt seem creepy or scary as he approached her and asked if her parents were home. When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. But that brazen kidnapper, the one operating in the clear light of day, does exist. 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. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? She was reportedly 17 years old. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. Two days after Robinsons bold escape, she found out that Evonitz had killed himself. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. He was a stranger to them. 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. 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. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did.