Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. 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. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. 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? Kara said the driver didnt seem creepy or scary as he approached her and asked if her parents were home. What they won't do is excuse him. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He pulled a gun. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. Does She Have Kids. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the majority of children are abducted by someone they know. Guns, ropes, and other tools for murder were also found, as were notes that signaled Evonitz had his eye on other potential victims. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. When arrested a month later, he pleaded no contest to the charge of a charge of lewd and lascivious behavior in the presence of a child and was ordered three years of probation. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. 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 . Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. He took her to his apartment, tied her, and forced her to smoke marijuana before repeatedly raping her for the next eighteen hours. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. The secret was out, the monster exposed," Lott said. Kati Lisk, her younger sister, was just 12 years old at the time and liked playing the clarinet and painting, according to the local newspaper The Free Lance Star in 2002. [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. Richard Evonitz. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. The crime took place in September 1996. 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 . Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, WHERE TO WATCH CLEVELAND ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. Richard Marc Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) 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, South Carolina. 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. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "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's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. Three days after kidnapping Robinson, authorities caught up to Evonitz in Florida and a high-speed ensued, ending when Evonitz shot himself and died. Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. Are you watching the premiere of The Girl Who Escaped: #TheKaraRobinsonStory? Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. "Mike," she asked, "was Marc really on vacation? Through evidence discovered after Robinsons brave escape, Evonitz was tied to the Silva and Lisk murders. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. Metts said the girl led detectives to the apartment and picked Evonitz out of a photo array. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " 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. While Richard seemingly remained inactive for the next few years, he struck again in June 2002. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Evonitz did not have any children with either wives. She suffered a panic attack when Evonitz put her back in the container while he called his wife, who was at Walt Disney World with his mother. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. . Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. 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. 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. 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. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. 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. From Evonitz's notes police learned that Kara, his South Carolina victim, was not his first choice that day in June 2002. She would have recognized the souvenir. 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. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Inside the Magic. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. 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. [4], Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. The couple was in Mexico to celebrate Silva's 40th birthday when Gere was diagnosed with . Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. He pulled a gun. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. 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. When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. 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. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a murderer, though he did allegedly confess to his sister just prior to his death. On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. 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. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. Evonitz was cornered by police in Florida where he then killed himself. ", One exception that investigators have focused on is Evonitz's 1988 conviction for exposing himself to a teenager and her toddler sister in Florida. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Yet the water seemed to draw him. ago. I just ran, she said. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. Lifetime's 'The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story' is a gripping crime thriller movie that delves into the actual harrowing experiences of Kara Robinson. 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. 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. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. 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. 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. Gower and Evonitz had been neighbors in Columbia and she was a friend of his younger sister. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. 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. In one swift movement, she moved the items [that were blocking the doorway], shoved the vacuum cleaner into the closet and slammed it shut, opened the front door and ran out. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Who is Vincent Paterno? She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Though Hope does not publicly share many details about herself and has a minimal presence on social media, official records state that she is now in her 40s and resides in West Columbia, South Carolina. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. 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. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. 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. 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. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Elizabeth Smart serves as an executive producer.[10]. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. In the past few years, he returned to South Carolina and recently moved into a small garden apartment with his 19-year-old wife. It was then that Evonitz drove up and started chatting to her under the pretense of selling magazines -- before pointing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car, the New York Daily News reported in 2015. Related: 'Mandalorian' Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist, serial murderer, and kidnapper who murdered three small children in Richland County, South Carolina, then kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old female. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. Ginny and Georgia star Katie Douglas stars as Kara Robinson. For some reason, she did not walk at her regular time. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. The information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours.