Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. 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. Have something to tell us about this article? 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. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. He was a stranger to them. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. 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. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. : r/standwithusa. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. 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}}. ago. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. His first wife was Bonnie Lou Gower and his second wife was Hope Marie Crowley. In his secret footlocker police found scraps of paper, old envelopes, anything he could find, on which he had written directions to potential victims' houses and descriptions of young girls. In an August 2002 interview, the young widow stated, He was my husband, he is still my husband, and I love him dearly. Once the investigation concluded, Hope chose to remain in South Carolina and stood by her husbands family following his death. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. There is not any information on how he spent his early day. Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. 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 Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, a two-hour Oxygen special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. 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. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. He described another girl in the same neighborhood: her appearance, how she walked each day on certain streets, how her parents were gone during the day, how she entered her home through a rear door. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. 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. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. The notes contained the addresses of two other young girls and descriptions of them, The Associated Press reported. (function(e,t,n,r){var i=n.currentScript,s=null;if(i)s=i;else{var o=n.getElementsByTagName(r),u=o.length-1;for(var a=u;a>=0;a--)if(o[a].getAttribute("rel")==="skimlinks-ref-banner"){s=o[a];break}}s&&setTimeout(function(){var i=e[t]||(e[t]=[]),o={"imageUrl":"/banners/img/referral/higher_commissions/728X90.gif","wid":"07","creativeId":60710,"color":"grey","size":"728X90","domainId":"1601785","publisherId":137930,"bannerUrl":"/banners/js/referral/referral_banner.min.js","cdnUrl":"https://s.skimresources.com"};if(i.length===0){var u=n.createElement(r);u.src=o.cdnUrl+o.bannerUrl,u.async=!0,s.parentNode.insertBefore(u,s)}i.push({el:s,config:o})})})(this,"__skimlinksBanners",document,"script"); CONTACT US | ADVERTISE ON ITM Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. As she looked at them, he forced her at gunpoint into a green plastic storage container in the car's trunk. On May 1, 1997, Richard kidnapped 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kathryn Kati Lisk, from their front lawn after school. He was tracked to Florida on June 27 and was involved in a high speed chase by police to Sarasota, where he was surrounded and subsequently shot himself in the standoff. Now, if you wish to know more about the murders Richard committed and his current whereabouts, we have you covered. 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. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Her loyalness was reflected when she disagreed with believing her husband's acts. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. But what happened to the man who abducted her? He declared bankruptcy after losing the majority of his money as a result of the divorce. He pulled a gun. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. 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. She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. Once the officers accompanied the 15-year-old to the apartment complex, a maintenance worker pointed them to Richards apartment. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. 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. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. We don't know if this is our guy. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. Richard Marc Evonitz was a devoted spouse who delighted in working with animals and amusing people. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. 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.. Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. Police say now that those closest to him--his wives, sisters, mother, friends and co-workers--had no idea he was a killer. Yet the water seemed to draw him. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. "He was someone who just blends in. When he abducted Kara, he did so only after placing his wife and mother on a plane for Walt Disney World. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. When she explained that her friends mum wasnt home, Evonitz moved closer and said he was handing out brochures. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. I want to know why he didnt get me.. Please subscribe to keep reading. Oxygen Network created a documentary about Karas ordeal and incredible survival. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. By matching the countless DNA samples found in Richards apartment and car with the ones found on his three victims, the investigators concluded that he was the one who had murdered them years ago and intended to do the same with Kara. Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. Inside the pocket was trace evidence that connected Evonitz to the Lisk sisters. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. Related: 'Mandalorian' Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. LIKE BLUEBEARD, the character in the old European fable, Marc Evonitz had a secret life hidden behind lock and key. After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. . Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. But that brazen kidnapper, the one operating in the clear light of day, does exist. 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. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. To learn more about Kara Robinson, watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, on Oxygen. 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. 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. What they won't do is excuse him. Metts said the girl led detectives to the apartment and picked Evonitz out of a photo array. According to the New York Daily News, Evonitz pulled up and began conversing with her under the guise of selling magazines, before brandishing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car. "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. pic.twitter.com/PJBCnblMux. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. she asked. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 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. I just ran, she said. by Competitive-Club4848. But inside Evonitz's apartment, detectives found a Fredericksburg, Va., newspaper from the day after the Lisk abductions and notes about the girls, along with directions to a location near their home. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. Evonitz reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. Later, when he fled from police after Kara's escape, he stole license plates and shaved his goatee to hide his identity. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. The footlocker also contained pornographic tapes and many pairs of female underwear, all sizes, from infant to adult. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. "No signs of the monster.". "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. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. 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. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " 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. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. 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. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. 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. The 16-year-old Courtland High junior wanted to go to cosmetology school and loved the color purple. 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. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. She would have recognized the souvenir. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. 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. [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. 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. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders, "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the, And while Evonitz was described by those who knew him as a well-respected, married Navy veteran who. What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. They could not determine if it had been stolen or purchased. It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. . Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. 0. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. Robinson was able to free herself while Evonitz was sound asleep, escape, and identify her abductor to the police using information she was able to find on Evonitz's fridge. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. After two days, Kara launched her daring escape while Evonitz slept: Kara said: There was a solid 30 seconds of me looking at the door and thinking, how am I going to do this?'. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. To Evonitz, they were scouting expeditions. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote.