Lifetimes thriller movie The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story chronicles how Kara courageously escaped her captors home after being abducted and assaulted for eighteen hours, eventually helping the police identify him and his past crimes. After graduating high school and briefly working as a Manager for Jiffy Lube, he joined the Navy. In 1987, Richard allegedly exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida.
They had all gone missing in Spotsylvania County, Va., more than five years before Karas abduction. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. Her brave act led the police to identify Richard as a serial killer who had murdered three other girls during the 90s. You have permission to edit this article. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. Later, he worked at companies that manufactured compressors and grinding equipment. 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,, . During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two.
From that knowledge, this community may gain some insight into how such crimes could be prevented in the future. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Hope Evonitz resided in Caroline County at the time, and she was aware of the slayings. He was horrified and disgusted with himself. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". 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. Still, Evonitz left no witnesses or clues. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. Consider serial murderer Richard Evonitz, the subject of the upcoming Oxygen special Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story, who kidnapped Kara Robinson. 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.
South Carolina kidnapping survivor Kara Robinson reveals tips for Oxygen Network created a documentary about Karas ordeal and incredible survival. In the late 90s, Hope Marie Crowley was a 17-year-old waitress working at a pancake joint in Massaponax, Virginia.
Richard Evonitz Obituary (2014) - Fredericksburg, VA - The Free Lance Does She Have Kids? None of it contained telling DNA evidence. Kristin Lisk was a 15-year-old who was finishing up her first year of high school and like playing soccer. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. 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. 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. The secret was out, the monster exposed," Lott said. Richard Marc Evonitz, was born on July 29, 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. Evonitz took Robinson to his apartment, where he restrained her, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her. Based on the evidence collected from his apartment, the police concluded that he had killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati and intended to do the same with Kara. He was a former Sonar Technician who served in the US Navy for eight years and received two medals for good conduct. Sensing no way of escape, Richard shot himself dead before he could be arrested. Police now know that Evonitz spent hours traveling the back roads of South Carolina and Virginia. Police found her body in a pond weeks later. 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. Her body was found five weeks later in a King George County creek. Guns, ropes, and other tools for murder were also found, as were notes that signaled Evonitz had his eye on other potential victims. When Kara Robinson escaped her captor, Richard Evonitz, she helped police uncover a serial killer. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. Age, Family, Husband, Net worth, Wiki, Bio, Height, Birthday, Season 41: Sara Wilson Age, Family, Net worth -Birthday, Height, Partner, Wikipedia, Bio. Screenshot from True Crime Daily YouTube, Teen survives abduction by serial killer, now thrives in law enforcement. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. The sisters disappeared from their yard on May 1, 1997. 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. I want to know why he didnt get me.. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. Unexpectedly, this unhealthy behavior gradually turned animalistic, and he resorted to kidnapping, sexual abuse, and even murder to satisfy his depravities. Crowley remained in South Carolina after Evonitzs death. Through evidence discovered after Robinsons brave escape, Evonitz was tied to the Silva and Lisk murders. 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. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. 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. 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. 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. 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 . To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. She is expected to be alive with her age close to 41. 'The Monster' Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist and a stalker, and he may be worse. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. 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 . An article about Kara's harrowing ordeal noted that she was outside watering flowers for a neighbor:
As Police Closed In, Evonitz Admitted Crimes to His Sister Throughout her ordeal, Robinson focused on her abductor and her surroundings to gather information she could use. 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. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. 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. [4], Evonitz was married twice, first to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, then to Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 until his death. Her loyalness was reflected when she disagreed with believing her husband's acts. 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. 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. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes.
Keeping a dark side under lock and key - Fredericksburg.com [3], Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitz. He pulled a gun. 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 . They were discovered deceased in a river a few days later. This helped the police track down his location. Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. Nevertheless, the detectives found a big locker in the apartment containing several news clippings related to Silvia, Kristin, and Katis unsolved murders. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. When he abducted Kara, he did so only after placing his wife and mother on a plane for Walt Disney World. 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. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . It seemed that Evonitz delighted in outsmarting police, in making his crimes as daring as possible. she asked. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 Evonitz made scouting trips and careful notes of what he saw. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. 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 . Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! When police interviewed Hope Evonitz after her husband's death, they said she was controlled and emotionless.
Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice Robinson explained to Crime Watch Daily that Evonitzs wife was a key to identifying him. She also makes use of TikTokandInstagram where she provides advice on how to heal, how to support, how to speak to victims of crime, and how to embrace a survivor mentality. Her story has also been shared on numerous television shows, including Investigation Discoverys On the Case With Paula Zahn.
Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? 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.. Age, Wife, Family, Net worth, Salary, Wiki, Bio, Why did FedEx fire him. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. Robinson escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. "He would not even discuss it with her," said Capt. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. Please subscribe to keep reading. And that meant so much to me. It also helped forge her future career decisions. When she led police back to Evonitz's apartment, he was gone. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two.
Richard Evonitz - Wikipedia Kristian Bruun stars as Richard Evonitz in the terrifying film. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes.
Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice However, until Robinson led investigators to Evonitz, little progress was made in the investigation. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. Robinson has publicly spoken about the terrifying ordeal, years before the Lifetime true crime movie aired. Related:Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered. Youve undoubtedly heard of Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Dennis Rader, Richard Ramirez, and Eileen Wuornos some of the most well-known serial killers in American history but there are also less well-publicized serial murderers, and one of them has a bizarre Disney connection. He pulled a gun. Authorities apprehended Evonitz in Florida three days after he kidnapped Robinson, and a high-speed chase occurred, culminating with Evonitz shooting himself and dying. He spoke about Evonitz last year at a meeting of the International Homicide Investigators Association in Las Vegas. ", One exception that investigators have focused on is Evonitz's 1988 conviction for exposing himself to a teenager and her toddler sister in 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. But Evonitz eventually fell asleep, and Robinson was able to slip out of her restraints and make a run for it. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met.
Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice He was arrested a month later when his ship returned to port. But when she escaped, Richard feared his arrest and fled, eventually killing himself to evade arrest. Make sure you join Kara Robinson Chamberlain after the premiere for a live conversation on her Instagram!
Serial Killer Abducted Victim While Wife Was at Walt Disney World Who is Hope Marie Crowley? After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. The kidnapper took Robinson to his apartment, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her and held her captive for 18 hours. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? Staff writers Patricia Davis and Josh White and researcher Bobbye Pratt in Washington contributed to this report. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. 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. 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. In other news, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes. According to the Free Lance-Star, they discovered evidence linking him to all three killings while investigating his residence. by Competitive-Club4848. He forcefully held Kara in his apartment and sexually assaulted her repeatedly for eighteen hours, but luckily, she escaped the following morning. r/standwithusa 5 min. By Daniel S. Levine - February 26, 2023 03:04 pm EST. 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.
. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said.
Who Is Richard Evonitz Wife Hope Marie Crowley: Is She Still Alive Tess Ragin had been told of her son's vacation but did not believe it. On May 1, 1997, Richard kidnapped 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kathryn Kati Lisk, from their front lawn after school. special that premiered September 26 and is now streaming. This confirmed to the police that Richard was the one who had sexually assaulted and killed Silvia, Kristin, and Kati in 1996 and 1997. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. Police were puzzled by the underwear. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170.
Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. 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. ago. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. LIKE BLUEBEARD, the character in the old European fable, Marc Evonitz had a secret life hidden behind lock and key. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. When he used that route, he passed hundreds of other potential dumping sites--country roads, farm fields and logging trails. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. When he kidnapped Kara, he was married to his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, and she unknowingly played a crucial role in helping the teenager identify Richard. Sensing that there was no escape, he began calling relatives with cryptic confessions. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. 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.". Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content.
Kara Robinson's Story: Who Were Richard Evonitz's Other 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. That was two years ago. They hadn't. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. [7], On June 24, 2002, Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain from a friend's yard in Columbia, South Carolina, after holding a gun to her head and then forcing her into a plastic bin. "Why would you do such a thing?" I just ran, she said. [2], In January 1987, Evonitz exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. However, that brazen kidnapper, the one who operates in broad daylight, does exist. whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. When she explained that her friends mum wasnt home, Evonitz moved closer and said he was handing out brochures.
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. She was. After sexually assaulting them, he strangled the sisters and dumped their bodies in the South Anna River. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. I just went into survival mode, she told. 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. Two days after Robinsons bold escape, she found out that Evonitz had killed himself.
Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? What they won't do is excuse him. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. Now, if you wish to learn more about Hope, heres what we found! 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 Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. The couple was in Mexico to celebrate Silva's 40th birthday when Gere was diagnosed with . Two Richland County deputies and one FBI agent formed a team today that will work full time to reconstruct Evonitz's life. As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. Have something to tell us about this article? Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. 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. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. He was a stranger to them. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. . The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. "If he kept everything locked in there, maybe it wouldn't come out again," she said. l "Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story. After an 18-hour ordeal, the girl heard Evonitz snoring and was able to escape, authorities said. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation.
End came with love, fear, horror - Fredericksburg.com She never misses Jeopardy and alternately wishes she lived in Beast's castle or was making the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. 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. 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. Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. In Columbia, he worked at an air compressor company and lived blissfully with Hope, who doted on him. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Meanwhile, discovering her escape, Evonitz fled to Florida. 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.