She reported the matter to the Richland County Sheriffs Department and took them back to his apartment complex, where a maintenance man helped them identify the residence. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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.. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. 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. 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. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. 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. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS. They were scenes of him, wearing the underwear and pleasuring himself. Credit: Disney. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. While searching his apartment, they found evidence connecting him to all three murders,according to the Free Lance Star. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. 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. 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. 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. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. There is no information available on how many of the assets he actually possesses. After his time in the U.S. Navy ended, he settled down in South Carolina and began. Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. 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. But that brazen kidnapper, the one operating in the clear light of day, does exist. But his crimes were "high-risk," in the sense that he abducted victims from busy suburban neighborhoods in the middle of the day. . About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . ", One exception that investigators have focused on is Evonitz's 1988 conviction for exposing himself to a teenager and her toddler sister in Florida. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Evonitz and his second wife then moved to Columbia, where he found work at Armstrong Compressed Air Services, based 80 miles away in Spartanburg. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. 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 He forcefully held Kara in his apartment and sexually assaulted her repeatedly for eighteen hours, but luckily, she escaped the following morning. Robinson spoke to Elizabeth Smart from Crime Watch Daily about her kidnapping and how she managed to escape Evonitzs clutches and helped the police catch him. 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. Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. 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. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. 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. 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. 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. Kristin and Katis bodies were found five days later, and the police reportedly found a strand of Sofias hair on the older Lisk sisters body. He had urges but he could control them. The murders remained unsolved until 2002, when Evonitz abducted and raped a girl in South Carolina. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . A high-speed car chase followed to catch Richard, resulting in him running over spike strips on the highway and being attacked by a police dog. Kara was forced into a storage bin, where she amazingly kept her wits about her, remembering the turns the vehicle, a green Pontiac Firebird, took and even memorizing the storage bins serial number. But she changed her routine that Monday. Police say now that those closest to him--his wives, sisters, mother, friends and co-workers--had no idea he was a killer. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. Officials said he has no other known criminal convictions. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. At the time of Kara's abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitz's wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. Deep within some of the tapes were scenes that Evonitz recorded. Kara Robinson was abducted by serial killer Richard Evonitz from her friend's yard in 2002. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. Are you watching the premiere of The Girl Who Escaped: #TheKaraRobinsonStory? Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. 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. 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. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. 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. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? 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. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " r/standwithusa 5 min. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. While Richard seemingly remained inactive for the next few years, he struck again in June 2002. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. The film premiered on Lifetime on Saturday, February 11. When arrested a month later, he pleaded no contest to the charge of a charge of lewd and lascivious behavior in the presence of a child and was ordered three years of probation. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. 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. November 18, 2021 . In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Only when he was ready did the safe Henry Jekyll become the wicked Edward Hyde. Evonitz did not have any children with either wives. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. 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 . Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. 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. 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. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. Does She Have Kids? 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. [2], After high school, Evonitz worked briefly as the manager of a Jiffy Lube, before joining the United States Navy. "No signs of the monster.". He chose strangers to abduct and kill. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. 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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. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. 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. 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. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. 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. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. For some reason, she did not walk at her regular time. I just ran, she said. He took her to his apartment, tied her, and forced her to smoke marijuana before repeatedly raping her for the next eighteen hours. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. At the police station, she spotted Evonitz's supervisor, Mike Augustine of Armstrong Compressors. Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery.

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