Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. Hope Evonitz rode with her husband on some of these trips. Inside the Magic consists of multiple writers & videographers living near both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks and around the world. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. They hope to understand him and connect him to other crimes he may have committed. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. 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. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. 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 chose Kara on the spur of the moment. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. She joined The Post in 1997 as a two-year intern covering policing and courts in Loudoun County, Va. She later covered local and national education. Only when he was ready did the safe Henry Jekyll become the wicked Edward Hyde. When he and his wife-to-be Hope Crowley moved from Virginia to Columbia in 1999, they . They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. His first wife was Bonnie Lou Gower and his second wife was Hope Marie Crowley. To learn more about Kara Robinson, watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, on Oxygen. 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. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. 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. 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. 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. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Police say now that those closest to him--his wives, sisters, mother, friends and co-workers--had no idea he was a killer. 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. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. 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 Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Evonitz and his second wife then moved to Columbia, where he found work at Armstrong Compressed Air Services, based 80 miles away in Spartanburg. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. Deep within some of the tapes were scenes that Evonitz recorded. November 18, 2021 . Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. 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. In 2002, the 15-year-olds life took a devastating turn after being abducted by Richard Evonitz from her friends home in Columbia, South Carolina. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Hope Marie Evonitz (ne Crowley) was utterly devastated by her husbands death and the shocking revelations made by the police, yet she refused to believe he had done anything wrong. By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. 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. 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. 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. 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. You can cancel at any time. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. "If he kept everything locked in there, maybe it wouldn't come out again," she said. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. Serial killer, Richard Marc Evonitz, killed himself while surrounded by police in June 2002. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. 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. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". Who is Hope Marie Crowley? Steve Dempsey of the King George County Sheriff's Office and a member of the task force that investigated the 1996 and '97 slayings of three Spotsylvania County girls: Sofia Silva and Kristin and Kati Lisk. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. 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. Watch Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Tale for more information on this case and Robinsons story. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. PRIVACY POLICY. Kara said: That was probably the fastest my heart was beating the entire time I was there. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Does She Have Kids? Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. 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. I knew if I woke him up and wasnt successful [in getting out] that would probably be when I would get hurt, and when his sadistic nature would kick in [she feared being shot in the back]., Related:Florida Man Arrested After Threatening to Blow Up Homes of Disney Executives. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Sofia Silva, 16; Kristin Lisk and her sister Kati Lisk, Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? "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. Yet the water seemed to draw him. 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. But what happened to the man who abducted her? Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. As a result, it should be under $100,000 USD. Related:Mother on Flight From Disney World Told to Glue Mask to Childs Face. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. Please subscribe to keep reading. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. Evonitz's criminal career lasted at least 15 years. 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. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. 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. Richard T. EvonitzRichard Thomas Evonitz, 73, of Fredericksburg died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at his residence surrounded by his family.Survivors include his wife, Barbara Evonitz; son Richard W. 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. Two Richland County deputies and one FBI agent formed a team today that will work full time to reconstruct Evonitz's life. He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. Evonitz reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. Was it some sort of uniform that he wore when committing his crimes? What they won't do is excuse him. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County. Evonitz collected the tools of rape and murder and hid them in plain sight. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. As they surrounded him, he killed himself with his gun. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. They are recounted here in detail that some may find disturbing. Nevertheless, she embraced a life of privacy and continues to do so even today. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. The footlocker also contained pornographic tapes and many pairs of female underwear, all sizes, from infant to adult. [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. He also will host an FBI "working group" on Evonitz next year. 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. Gower and Evonitz had been neighbors in Columbia and she was a friend of his younger sister. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. 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.. 20052023 JAK Schmidt, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. She freed herself from the constraints Evonitz placed on her while he slept before escaping. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. 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. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Today, 19 years after her harrowing ordeal, Kara Robinson Chamberlain is married with two sons -- and 219,700 fans on TikTok, where she seeks to spread hope and encouragement to other survivors, she notes at kararobinsonchamberlain.com. Authorities said Evonitz has lived or traveled in California, Virginia, Florida and Texas. We're going to take our time. This helped the police track down his location. You have permission to edit this article. 0. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. In 2010, Robinson graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 He was married twice. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. He forced her to watch the evening news to see if there was a report of her kidnapping. It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. Known as Marc to avoid confusion with a paternal uncle also named Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at age 16. 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. Kristen and Jennifer, his two daughters, were born in 1968 and 1971, respectively, and he was the first of three children. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. She was reportedly 17 years old. "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a kidnapping survivor, now reaches thousands of viewers on TikTok with her advice about overcoming trauma. 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. Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. 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.. We don't want to rush things. From 1988 to 1996, Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower, and from 1999 till his death, he was married to Hope Marie Crowley. Evonitz was the most dangerous of all predators--an invisible one. Just consider Richard Evonitz, the serial killer who abducted Kara Robinson, the subject of the new Oxygen special "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story.". Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. 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. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. 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. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. She and other family members met with police the next morning at the Richland County police headquarters. : r/standwithusa. Inside were trophies so damning that he risked all to retain them. He forcefully held Kara in his apartment and sexually assaulted her repeatedly for eighteen hours, but luckily, she escaped the following morning. Not just that, the teenager mentally noted her kidnappers doctor and dentists contact details posted on the refrigerator. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. We don't know if this is our guy. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday, Who is Vessa Rockliff -Daly Cherry Evans Wife? Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. However, unknown to her and their family, Richard had a sinister side and abducted, raped, and murdered three young girls between 1996 and 1997 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old soccer player who was finishing her freshman year of high school. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. When Virginia officers looked through his Columbia, S.C., apartment, they searched for an afghan they knew he owned in Spotsylvania. Police are not sure. Police were puzzled by the underwear. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. 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 . When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. What do you think about Karas amazing story? The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. In September 1996, Sofia Silva, 16, disappeared from her. That was how he planned it. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. Authorities apprehended Evonitz in Florida three days after he kidnapped Robinson, and a high-speed chase occurred, culminating with Evonitz shooting himself and dying. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Evonitz was in the Navy and was married twice to much younger wives, with both living unaware of his crimes. But inside Evonitz's apartment, detectives found a Fredericksburg, Va., newspaper from the day after the Lisk abductions and notes about the girls, along with directions to a location near their home. Now, if you wish to know more about the murders Richard committed and his current whereabouts, we have you covered. 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. When he used that route, he passed hundreds of other potential dumping sites--country roads, farm fields and logging trails. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. 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. Three days after kidnapping Robinson, authorities caught up to Evonitz in Florida and a high-speed ensued, ending when Evonitz shot himself and died. 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 took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. 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. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. Pic- survivor Kara Robinson Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 was a serial killer, kidnapper andrapistresponsible for the deaths of three girls inSpotsylvania County, Virginiaand the abduction and rape of a 15-year-old girl inRichland County, S.Carolina. That was two years ago. The 12-year-old Spotsylvania Middle School student played clarinet and hoped to be a cartoonist. by Competitive-Club4848. Because it brought home the importance of what I did. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. [6], On May 1, 1997, Evonitz abducted sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, from their front lawn after school. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. Her body was found five weeks later in a King George County creek. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. . The notes contained the addresses of two other young girls and descriptions of them, The Associated Press reported. Richard Evonitz was married to Crowley from 1999 until his death on June 27, 2002. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death.