'The Monster' Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist and a stalker, and he may be worse. They hadn't. On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. 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. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. And while Evonitz was described by those who knew him as a well-respected, married Navy veteran who 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. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. 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. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. 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. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. It's never been determined if Evonitz was responsible for more than three murders. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. 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. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. At the police station, she spotted Evonitz's supervisor, Mike Augustine of Armstrong Compressors. To learn more about Kara Robinson, watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, on Oxygen. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. Yet the water seemed to draw him. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. The 12-year-old Spotsylvania Middle School student played clarinet and hoped to be a cartoonist. 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. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. 0. What do you think about Karas amazing story? 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. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. You have permission to edit this article. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170. Later, authorities identified him as the LiskSilva killer. When he was convicted for exposing himself in Florida at age 23, Evonitz told the arresting officer that he had uncontrollable urges. 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. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. Based on Karas testimony and the evidence obtained from the apartment, the police began tracking Richard and located him in Sarasota, Florida. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. 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. 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 Evonitz kidnapped her. Created in 2005, what started as a tiny central Florida-based website and short weekly podcast that allowed our audience to visit Walt Disney World virtually has grown into the publishing company it is today. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott describes Evonitz's particular compulsion as "The Monster." Per the article, Kara said, From that moment I kind of realized that he would probably not let me go and it would be up to me to get out and escape. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. I wanted to gather as much information as I could to figure out where I was and who he was to identify him later., Related:Iconic Disney Trains Left Brilliantly Vandalized at EPCOT. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. 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. Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. : r/standwithusa. The notes contained the addresses of two other young girls and descriptions of them, The Associated Press reported. 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. When Kara Robinson escaped her captor, Richard Evonitz, she helped police uncover a serial killer. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? (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 When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. According to the New York Daily News, her elder sister was inside but had not heard anything. However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". This four-part series is based on interviews with investigators and members of Evonitzs family, and a review of public documents from Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Hope Evonitz rode with her husband on some of these trips. "He was someone who just blends in. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Does She Have Kids? Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. Deep within some of the tapes were scenes that Evonitz recorded. 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. Nevertheless, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and moved into a small garden apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. 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. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. She was. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. Serial killer, Richard Marc Evonitz, killed himself while surrounded by police in June 2002. 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. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. 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 returned to port. But due to the lack of evidence, both cases remained cold for several years until June 24, 2002, when Richard abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson at gunpoint from her friends front yard in Columbia. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. Through evidence discovered after Robinsons brave escape, Evonitz was tied to the Silva and Lisk murders. He forced her to watch the evening news to see if there was a report of her kidnapping. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. Usually, Evonitz was more careful. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Eventually, she began befriending Robert and winning his confidence, even offering to sweep his apartment floor. The film starred Katie Douglas as Kara Robinson, Cara Buono as Debra Robinson, and Kristian Bruun as Richard Evonitz. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. Investigators soon found evidence that Evonitz was responsible for the murders of three girls in Virginia:Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, the Associated Press reported at the time. 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. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. by Competitive-Club4848. 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. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Life is imitating art in East Palestine, Ohio, as the aftermath of a derailed train is drawing parallels with Netflix's White Noise. On June 24, 2002, Robinson, then 15, was watering the plants at a friend's home in Colombia, South Carolina, when her friend went inside. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. On June 24, 2002, Richard Evonitz abducted the then-15-year-old Kara Robinson. 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 did not have any children with either wives. "Of all the people in my 24 years that I've ever investigated, he's probably the most evil," said Dempsey of the King George Sheriff's Office. Richard Marc Evonitz forever changed the way area residents view the community. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. 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. At the time of Karas abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitzs wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, reported WISTV.com. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 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. Evonitz fooled everyone, including his family. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Inside the Magic. 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. Two Richland County deputies and one FBI agent formed a team today that will work full time to reconstruct Evonitz's life. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. 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 . Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. "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. "I just wanted him to sit across from me and look in my eyes, she said, and know that picking me was the greatest mistake he ever made.. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. [5], Evonitz is suspected of a 1994 abduction and rape and a 1995 rape in Spotsylvania, Virginia. Kara said the driver didnt seem creepy or scary as he approached her and asked if her parents were home. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. Police records in Clay County say he "confessed both orally and written to his guilt. Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. r/standwithusa 5 min. 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. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. There is no information available on how many of the assets he actually possesses. She was reportedly 17 years old. "He was just a normal person on the outside," Lott said. He had grown arrogant, police said. 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. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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. Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In Columbia, he worked at an air compressor company and lived blissfully with Hope, who doted on him. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. 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 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.". Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. 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. . He had urges but he could control them. Actually, he, too, had taken a week's vacation, a secret break. 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. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. With the help of two men in a car in the apartment complex, she reached the nearby police station and reported everything. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . 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. But she changed her routine that Monday. A 15-year-old kidnap survivor's escape led police to a serial killer: Richard Evonitz. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Officials said he has no other known criminal convictions. Glod previously worked at the Montgomery Journal in Maryland. She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. 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,, . Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. Watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Tale for more information on this case and Robinsons story. 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. An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor: We're going to take our time. . Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. Moreover, Richard admitted that he often had uncontrollable sexual urges and would look for and target teenage girls. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her front porch in Spotsylvania County. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. Only when he was ready did the safe Henry Jekyll become the wicked Edward Hyde. After Richard Evonitz was discharged from the Navy, the couple moved to Fredericksburg. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. In the past few years, he returned to South Carolina and recently moved into a small garden apartment with his 19-year-old wife. Now, if you wish to learn more about Hope, heres what we found! After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved.