Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story,. 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. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet The Free Lance Star reported in 2002. While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders,according to the Free Lance Star. Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. 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. There is not any information on how he spent his early day. [2], In January 1987, Evonitz exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. But she changed her routine that Monday. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. You have permission to edit this article. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. Does She Have Kids. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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 . 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. What they won't do is excuse him. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. 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 . The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. 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. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. It's going to be quite extensive.". r/standwithusa 5 min. "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.. 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 was suspected of additional killings, and soon before committing suicide, he confessed to his sister to a dozen atrocities. 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. Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. The footlocker also contained a white dress shirt, carefully folded. On May 1, 1997, the sisters vanished from their yard. 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. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. After graduating from high school, Evonitz worked as a manager at a Jiffy Lube before enlisting in the US Navy. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. Lifetimes The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story is a gripping crime thriller movie that delves into the actual harrowing experiences of Kara Robinson. 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 forcefully held Kara in his Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. 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. For more on this case and Robinson's story, watch"Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . 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}}. 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. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. In 1996, Gower left Evonitz for a man in California. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. He took her to his apartment, tied her, and forced her to smoke marijuana before repeatedly raping her for the next eighteen hours. 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. Their bodies were found five days later. 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. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. When she's not planning her next Disney trip, Rebekah can be found spending time with her family, shopping for Lilly Pulitzer, buried in a good book, or doing yoga. They could not determine if it had been stolen or purchased. An article about Karas harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: when a car drove past and came back moments later, pulling into the driveway. When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He was married twice. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. Throughout her multi-day abduction, Kara gained her captors trust by learning details about him, including: finding out he was in the Navy, memorizing the addresses of his dentist and doctor from magnets on his fridge, and realizing a woman lived in the apartment with him. 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. 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. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. 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. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. 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. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. When he kidnapped Kara, he was married to his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, and she unknowingly played a crucial role in helping the teenager identify Richard. Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. Richard Marc Evonitz was a devoted spouse who delighted in working with animals and amusing people. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. Are you watching the premiere of The Girl Who Escaped: #TheKaraRobinsonStory? She joined The Post in 1997 as a two-year intern covering policing and courts in Loudoun County, Va. She later covered local and national education. For some reason, she did not walk at her regular time. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. When Kara Robinson escaped her captor, Richard Evonitz, she helped police uncover a serial killer. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a kidnapping survivor, now reaches thousands of viewers on TikTok with her advice about overcoming trauma. 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. Watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Tale for more information on this case and Robinsons story. 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. "He was someone who just blends in. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. His first wife was Bonnie Lou Gower and his second wife was Hope Marie Crowley. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. The couple was in Mexico to celebrate Silva's 40th birthday when Gere was diagnosed with . And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. Officials said he has no other known criminal convictions. There were additional guns, ropes, and other murder equipment discovered, as well as notes indicating that Evonitz was on the lookout for other victims. [4], Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Metts said the girl led detectives to the apartment and picked Evonitz out of a photo array. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. Police were puzzled by the underwear. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. This four-part series is based on interviews with investigators and members of Evonitzs family, and a review of public documents from Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. After Richard Evonitz was discharged from the Navy, the couple moved to Fredericksburg. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. Police think while his 20-year-old wife was on vacation, Mr. Evonitz kidnapped a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint on June 24, forced her to his vehicle, drove her to his Columbia apartment and. Later, when he fled from police after Kara's escape, he stole license plates and shaved his goatee to hide his identity. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. We're going to take our time. I want to know why he didnt get me.. You can cancel at any time. Evonitz reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. His wife and mother were out of town on a trip to Walt Disney World, according to a 2002 Washington Post article. He was attacked by a police dog and ultimately shot himself while surrounded, rather than face the consequences of his actions. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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 . The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. Tess Ragin had been told of her son's vacation but did not believe it. Kara Robinson was abducted by serial killer Richard Evonitz from her friend's yard in 2002. [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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. He pulled a gun. 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. pic.twitter.com/zcsbeDwBv4. Evonitz mentioned only scant details about that killing, but it was enough to determine that he was not referring to the slayings of three Spotsylvania County, Va., girls, Lott said. Ultimately, as noted earlier, Kara led detectives to Evonitzs apartment, but he had already fled. Kara Robinsons Story Comes Up In Law Enforcement Career, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma, Kara Robinson Didnt Want People to Feel Sorry for Her, 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, she told. I wasn't going to breach that.". {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Salary, Wiki, Bio, Why did FedEx fire him. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. His violence didn't burst from within him unexpectedly. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. 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. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. "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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. We don't want to rush things. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. Her sister Kati Lisk was just 12 and enjoyed playing the clarinet and drawing, local outlet. 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. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. 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. 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. 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. The man behind the wheel was Richard (Marc) Evonitz, 38, who was prowling the neighborhood for his next victim after murdering three girls Sofia Silva, 16, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12 years earlier. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. 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? Credit: Disney. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. He was a stranger to them. Later, they checked to see if they had overlooked him during their long investigation. 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. 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.