Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. 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. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. In Columbia, he worked at an air compressor company and lived blissfully with Hope, who doted on him. You have permission to edit this article. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. 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.. Richard Marc Evonitz (July 29, 1963 - June 27, 2002) was a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist responsible for the deaths of three girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia and the abduction and rape of a 15 year old girl in Richland County, South Carolina. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? We don't want to rush things. When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless. Their continuing work has unlocked some of the mystery that surrounds the man: the why behind his crimes, and the nature and extent of his dangerous perversions. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. . 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. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. 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. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. 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. 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. Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. After Kara escaped from Evonitz in Columbia, police realized that they had never heard his name before. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. : r/standwithusa. He pulled a gun. 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. Are you watching the premiere of The Girl Who Escaped: #TheKaraRobinsonStory? The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. He was a stranger to them. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. 2d ago Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. That was how he planned it. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. 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 was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. They had all gone missing in Spotsylvania County, Va., more than five years before Karas abduction. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . Popular: Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. Police are not sure. Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. South Carolina kidnapping survivor Kara Robinson reveals tips for He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. 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 To learn more about Kara Robinson, watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, on Oxygen. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. 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. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. 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. Following his service in the Navy, Evonitz worked for a number of companies that supplied compressors and grinding machines. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz committed suicide after being apprehended by the police 20 years ago. 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. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. 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. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. Police were puzzled by the underwear. We're going to take our time. The 16-year-old Courtland High junior wanted to go to cosmetology school and loved the color purple. 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 . r/standwithusa 5 min. No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. Authorities apprehended Evonitz in Florida three days after he kidnapped Robinson, and a high-speed chase occurred, culminating with Evonitz shooting himself and dying. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. 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. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. 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. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. Richard Evonitz - Wikipedia 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. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. When he abducted Kara, he did so only after placing his wife and mother on a plane for Walt Disney World. 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. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. So he deviated from his plan. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. His wife and mother were out of town on a trip to Walt Disney World, according to a 2002 Washington Post article. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. she asked. The footlocker also contained pornographic tapes and many pairs of female underwear, all sizes, from infant to adult. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? Yet the water seemed to draw him. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. "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. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County.