Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. The film premiered on Lifetime on Saturday, February 11. No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. Actually, he, too, had taken a week's vacation, a secret break. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. 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. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. 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. After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. Ultimately, as noted earlier, Kara led detectives to Evonitzs apartment, but he had already fled. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. 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. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. . When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. 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. 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. 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. Oxygen Network created a documentary about Karas ordeal and incredible survival. Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! [4], Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. 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. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. The crime took place in September 1996. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. "He would not even discuss it with her," said Capt. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott describes Evonitz's particular compulsion as "The Monster." Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. She would have recognized the souvenir. 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. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". Does She Have Kids? He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. On June 24, 2002, 15-year-old Kara Robinson was at a friend's house in Lexington County, South Carolina preparing for a day at the lake. 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?'. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. She was reportedly 17 years old. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. She was reportedly 17 years old. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. As he drove from his South Carolina home to Georgia and into Florida last week, Richard Evonitz knew he was only a few steps ahead of police trying to arrest him in the rape of a 15-year-old girl. He pulled a gun. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Following Robinsons escape, Evonitz left his residence and traveled to Florida. Following my escape, I was able to go to Virginia and meet with the families of the three girls, Robinson said. An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: 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. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Serial Killer Abducted Victim While Wife Was at Walt Disney World "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. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. Richard Evonitz Obituary (2014) - Fredericksburg, VA - The Free Lance On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. She and other family members met with police the next morning at the Richland County police headquarters. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. 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. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. Two days after Robinsons bold escape, she found out that Evonitz had killed himself. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Robinson escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. Where Is Kara Robinson's Kidnapper Richard Evonitz Now? | Crime News Their bodies were found five days later. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS. Furthermore, the police found a lockbox containing news clippings and notes related to Kati, Kristin, and Sofias murders, along with writings mentioning the locations near their houses. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. Yet the water seemed to draw him. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. . His mother described the moment she realized he had betrayed her: With her son on the run, she returned from Disney World to her home in Columbia. 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. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? : r Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. 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 information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. 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. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. Lifetime brought The Kara Robinson Story to screens this February, a chilling true crime story of how a teenager escaped the clutches of serial killer Richard Evonitz. The couple was in Mexico to celebrate Silva's 40th birthday when Gere was diagnosed with . "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. 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. 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. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . Read More: Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? Police were puzzled by the underwear. 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. 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. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. His violence didn't burst from within him unexpectedly. Kristen and Jennifer, his two daughters, were born in 1968 and 1971, respectively, and he was the first of three children. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. Sofia Silva//Image Credit: RTL Zwei In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Does She Have Kids? Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. He was a stranger to them. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. There is not any information on how he spent his early day. ago. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. 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. 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.. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. 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. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. ", But he added, "This is the best lead we've had out of the 12,000 leads to come out.". At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. 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. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Richard served as a Sonar Technician for eight years before receiving two Good Conduct Medals and an honorable discharge. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. At the time of Karas abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitzs wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. she asked. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. The 12-year-old Spotsylvania Middle School student played clarinet and hoped to be a cartoonist. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. As a result, it should be under $100,000 USD. Police are not sure. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. We're going to take our time. Elizabeth Smart serves as an executive producer.[10]. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. Have something to tell us about this article? When he used that route, he passed hundreds of other potential dumping sites--country roads, farm fields and logging trails. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! LIKE BLUEBEARD, the character in the old European fable, Marc Evonitz had a secret life hidden behind lock and key. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. . [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. On September 9, 1996, Evonitz kidnapped 16-year-old Sofia Silva from the front steps of her house in Virginia. Richard Evonitz. richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope - k12boost.com Please subscribe to keep reading. As he drove from his South Carolina home to Georgia and into Florida last week, Richard Evonitz knew he was only a few steps ahead of police trying to arrest him in the rape of a 15-year-old. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. "If he kept everything locked in there, maybe it wouldn't come out again," she said. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. Who Is Richard Evonitz Wife Hope Marie Crowley: Is She Still Alive Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. 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 . Nevertheless, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and moved into a small garden apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. Gower and Evonitz had been neighbors in Columbia and she was a friend of his younger sister. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. We don't want to rush things. Police also were puzzled to find holes cut in the crotch of many of the pieces. His name appeared on only one list, a list of newly issued Spotsylvania County business licenses. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. 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 . "They knew if they did [open the trunk], bad things were going to happen.". She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. 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 16-year-old Courtland High junior wanted to go to cosmetology school and loved the color purple. That was how he planned it. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. 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. "He was someone who just blends in. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. The Making of Serial Killer Marc Evonitz - Medium The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. 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. They will interview friends, co-workers and relatives and track Evonitz's frequent travels from state to state in a search for links to similar unsolved crimes in those areas.