Evonitz fled after finding her gone and was tracked by the police to Sarasota, Florida. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. 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. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. She was reportedly 17 years old. Sensing a connection between the murders, the police theorized that the Spotsylvania County victim had also been raped and killed similarly. 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. 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. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. On September 9, 1996, Richard abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her homes front yard in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida. 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. On one of those trips in Hanover County, he discovered an isolated bridge over the South Anna River on State Route 738. WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. Ultimately, as noted earlier, Kara led detectives to Evonitzs apartment, but he had already fled. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". richard evonitz wife hope richard evonitz wife hope. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. He served as a sonar technician and received a Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged after eight years of service. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . 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. You can view a clip below: Today, Kara runs a website, where she offers hope and encouragement to other survivors.. When he abducted and killed his first victim, Sofia Silva, his first wife was on holiday in California. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. He was a stranger to them. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. "No signs of the monster.". Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. 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. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Police have learned that Evonitz carefully plotted the who, where and when of his crimes. We are not able to find his account on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. You have permission to edit this article. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. According to the New York Daily News, Evonitz pulled up and began conversing with her under the guise of selling magazines, before brandishing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. Richard Evonitz died on June 27, 2002, at the age of 38. [4], Following his stint in the Navy, Evonitz worked steadily at businesses that sold compressors and grinding equipment. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. We're going to take our time. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. Does She Have Kids. The footlocker also contained a white dress shirt, carefully folded. 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 . 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? Robinson escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. The secret was out, the monster exposed," Lott said. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. Serial killer, Richard Marc Evonitz, killed himself while surrounded by police in June 2002. This included one of Richards sisters, to whom he reportedly confessed the three murders. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. After his crimes, Fredericksburg never seemed as safe. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. No one answered the door today, and Evonitz's sister and mother have declined to comment. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. Richard Evonitz. On May 1, 1997, the sisters vanished from their yard. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. Bluebeard's wives were curious about the locked room and eventually looked inside. Inside a lockbox in the apartment, they found the hints to the Lisk killings. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, WHERE TO WATCH CLEVELAND ABDUCTION ON STREAMING, Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with these 37 heartwarming quotes, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. After two days, Kara launched her daring escape while Evonitz slept: Kara said: There was a solid 30 seconds of me looking at the door and thinking, how am I going to do this?'. Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. In 1996, Gower left Evonitz for a man in California. 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. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. I just went into survival mode, she told Oxygen. But his crimes were "high-risk," in the sense that he abducted victims from busy suburban neighborhoods in the middle of the day. The next morning, he slept beside Kara on his bed when she somehow managed to free herself and escape the apartment. The pursuit of Evonitz began when the 15-year-old he kidnapped at gunpoint managed to escape from handcuffs and slip out of his apartment in Columbia on Tuesday morning. On June 24, 2002 Evonitz kidnapped 15-year-old Kara Robinson from a yard in South Carolina. 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. 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. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. 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. On May 1, 1997 Evonitz kidnapped 15 and 12 years old Kristin and Kati Lisk from their home, also in Virginia. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Read More:Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? To everyones shock, Richard had already fled by then, seemingly after noticing Kara gone when he woke up. We don't know if this is our guy. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Evonitz's wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. I was really, really angry, she told producers. 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. Law enforcement officials spent three hours today searching the house where Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 1997, Smith said. The New York Daily News said that investigators thought the deaths were related to Silvas. : r/standwithusa. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. "When he feels the urge he drives around looking for a girl 18-19 years old short in height and has brunette hair.". He chose strangers to abduct and kill. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Does She Have Kids. After playing a key role in solving Evonitzs other murders, Kara was able to meet the families of both Sofia and the Lisk sisters. Investigators were able to track the serial killer to Sarasota, Florida, where a high-speed chase ensued. Three days after kidnapping Robinson, authorities caught up to Evonitz in Florida and a high-speed ensued, ending when Evonitz shot himself and died. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. He had urges but he could control them. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. 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. "We're going to do his whole life's tale," Lott said. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. 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. Kara Robinson was abducted by serial killer Richard Evonitz from her friend's yard in 2002.