At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. His belongings connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. There were additional guns, ropes, and other murder equipment discovered, as well as notes indicating that Evonitz was on the lookout for other victims. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. 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. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? 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. Related: 'Mandalorian' Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. He was trolling for potential victims and the best places to dispose of their bodies. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. 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. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Does She Have Kids. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. That was two years ago. With his wife gone and their Columbia apartment empty, he could play out his fantasies of domination and control. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". Evonitz's wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. she asked. Actually, he, too, had taken a week's vacation, a secret break. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. He had urges but he could control them. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. None of it contained telling DNA evidence. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. He would not be able to join them, he said, because he had to work. After an 18-hour ordeal, the girl heard Evonitz snoring and was able to escape, authorities said. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. 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. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. Evonitz had known his first wife since she was in the sixth grade. Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. Gower and Evonitz had been neighbors in Columbia and she was a friend of his younger sister. Police records in Clay County say he "confessed both orally and written to his guilt. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. Following his service in the Navy, Evonitz worked for a number of companies that supplied compressors and grinding machines. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. In the two years since his death, federal, state and local investigators have tried to link Evonitz to other crimes, compiling an inch-thick timeline of his life. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. Later, authorities identified him as the LiskSilva killer. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. 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. A WARNING: Evonitz's sexual obsessions are key to understanding him. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. 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. Evonitz and his second wife then moved to Columbia, where he found work at Armstrong Compressed Air Services, based 80 miles away in Spartanburg. Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. She was reportedly 17 years old. Richard served as a Sonar Technician for eight years before receiving two Good Conduct Medals and an honorable discharge. [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. EXCLUSIVE: Kara Robinson Chamberlain was 15 when serial killer Richard Evonitz kidnapped her at gunpoint and took her back to his home while his wife was at Walt Disney World Evonitz took the girl to his apartment, where they were alone because his wife and mother were vacationing at Walt Disney World, and carried the container inside. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Nevertheless, the detectives found a big locker in the apartment containing several news clippings related to Silvia, Kristin, and Katis unsolved murders. 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 fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. Tess Ragin had been told of her son's vacation but did not believe it. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. We're going to take our time. 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 . 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.". Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. 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. Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. The film premiered on Lifetime on Saturday, February 11. It's never been determined if Evonitz was responsible for more than three murders. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. On June 27, 2002, police finally caught up with him in Florida, where he led them on a high-speed chase, and finally cornered him, wrote the New York Daily News. . Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. He pulled a gun. 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. He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. 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 . "But with us, there was a level of trust. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. She was reportedly 17 years old. 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. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a. Downes and other detectives are familiar with the psychological labels that have been attached to Evonitz, terms like bipolar, hebephile, fantasy-driven or psychopath. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. Was it some sort of uniform that he wore when committing his crimes? This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. ", One exception that investigators have focused on is Evonitz's 1988 conviction for exposing himself to a teenager and her toddler sister in Florida. Evonitz did not have any children with either wives. "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. November 18, 2021 . 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. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. 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. Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. 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. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. 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. Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. Police are not sure. Kara said the driver didnt seem creepy or scary as he approached her and asked if her parents were home. He was married twice. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. 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.

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