. 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. Based on Karas testimony and the evidence obtained from the apartment, the police began tracking Richard and located him in Sarasota, Florida. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. After gagging her, he repeatedly raped Kara over the next eighteen hours and forced her to smoke marijuana. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. There is no information available on how many of the assets he actually possesses. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. When she explained that her friends mum wasnt home, Evonitz moved closer and said he was handing out brochures. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. : r/standwithusa. Evonitz was cornered by police in Florida where he then killed himself. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. We don't want to rush things. Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I was really, really angry, she told producers. The film premiered on Lifetime on Saturday, February 11. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. Does She Have Kids. Later, when he fled from police after Kara's escape, he stole license plates and shaved his goatee to hide his identity. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. 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. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. After watching The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story, you might be looking for more details on what happened to Richard Evonitzs first and second wife. . She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. 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. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". Evonitz made scouting trips and careful notes of what he saw. Today, 19 years after her harrowing ordeal, Kara Robinson Chamberlain is married with two sons -- and 219,700 fans on TikTok, where she seeks to spread hope and encouragement to other survivors, she notes at kararobinsonchamberlain.com. Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. November 18, 2021 . The information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. 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. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. Please subscribe to keep reading. So he deviated from his plan. Richard served as a Sonar Technician for eight years before receiving two Good Conduct Medals and an honorable discharge. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Richard Gere's wife, Alejandra Silva, shared more updates on the actor's health after he was hospitalized during the couple's vacation in Mexico. Their bodies were found five days later. . They had all gone missing in Spotsylvania County, Va., more than five years before Karas abduction. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Police were puzzled by the underwear. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. 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Other houses in the area where he lived will also be searched, he said. According to the Washington Post, he contacted his sister along the way and confessed to killing someone and committed more crimes than he can recall.. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, reported WISTV.com. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. "He would not even discuss it with her," said Capt. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. "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. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him. That was two years ago. He was trolling for potential victims and the best places to dispose of their bodies. 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.. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. Does She Have Kids. She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Kara said: At the same time he put a gun up to the right side of my neck and to come with him or he would shoot me., Related:Woman Seen Handcuffed at Disneys Hollywood Studios. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. . Once the officers accompanied the 15-year-old to the apartment complex, a maintenance worker pointed them to Richards apartment. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Does She Have Kids? Inside his apartment they found a locked foot-locker with newspaper clippings about the unsolved murders of three girls: Sofia Silva and sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. He was attacked by a police dog and ultimately shot himself while surrounded, rather than face the consequences of his actions. 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. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Have something to tell us about this article? special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. To learn more about Kara Robinson, watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, on Oxygen. "He was someone who just blends in. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Police say now that those closest to him--his wives, sisters, mother, friends and co-workers--had no idea he was a killer. Moreover, Richard admitted that he often had uncontrollable sexual urges and would look for and target teenage girls. Lott declined to say what details have led him to believe that Evonitz was not referring to the Lisk slayings when he talked to his sister. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. 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. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. Actor Tom Sizemore's family is currently "deciding end of life matters" after receiving updates from doctors, according to a statement given to CNN from Sizemore's manager Charles Lago . Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. After Richard Evonitz was discharged from the Navy, the couple moved to Fredericksburg. PRIVACY POLICY. He was a stranger to them. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/ReutersAlex Murdaugh, the once-prominent member of a legal dynasty in South Carolina's Lowcountry, has been convicted of murdering his wife and son in June 2021.Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of all four counts against him on Thursday in connection with the deaths of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, near the . l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. 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. "But with us, there was a level of trust. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. His wife and mother were out of town on a trip to Walt Disney World, according to a 2002 Washington Post article. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. Richard Evonitz. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram! Richard T. EvonitzRichard Thomas Evonitz, 73, of Fredericksburg died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at his residence surrounded by his family.Survivors include his wife, Barbara Evonitz; son Richard W. "If he kept everything locked in there, maybe it wouldn't come out again," she said. Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Salary, Wiki, Bio, Why did FedEx fire him. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. 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 returned to port. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170. 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. 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. After graduating from high school, Evonitz worked as a manager at a Jiffy Lube before enlisting in the US Navy. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. But due to the lack of evidence, both cases remained cold for several years until June 24, 2002, when Richard abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson at gunpoint from her friends front yard in Columbia. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. We're going to take our time. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . Marie Crowly, his wife, couldnt believe her husband was a criminal. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. 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 escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. Life is imitating art in East Palestine, Ohio, as the aftermath of a derailed train is drawing parallels with Netflix's White Noise. 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. Read More:Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. Was it some sort of uniform that he wore when committing his crimes? She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. After an 18-hour ordeal, the girl heard Evonitz snoring and was able to escape, authorities said. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. 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 that knowledge, this community may gain some insight into how such crimes could be prevented in the future. In Columbia, he worked at an air compressor company and lived blissfully with Hope, who doted on him. 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. 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. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. On June 24, 2002, Richard Evonitz abducted the then-15-year-old Kara Robinson. Not just that, the teenager mentally noted her kidnappers doctor and dentists contact details posted on the refrigerator. "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the The Free Lance-Star, according to the AP report. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. Who is Vincent Paterno? Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. She was reportedly 17 years old. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. 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. Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. 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. Inside were trophies so damning that he risked all to retain them. His violence didn't burst from within him unexpectedly. 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. 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. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more!