richard evonitz wife hope

Richard Marc Evonitz was a devoted spouse who delighted in working with animals and amusing people. When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. 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. Her abductor, later identified as Richard Evonitz, told her to get into a big plastic container in the cars backseat. 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 . "He was somebody who felt everything closing in on him. He never stopped, and he never said he was sorry. Hope Evonitz, his second wife, told her husband she wanted to know what was in the metal trunk. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. RELATED: WHERE TO WATCH FORGOTTEN ABDUCTION ON STREAMING; Richard remarried Hope Marie Crowley. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Nevertheless, the detectives found a big locker in the apartment containing several news clippings related to Silvia, Kristin, and Katis unsolved murders. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS Murderific True Crime Podcast (@MurderificBPC) July 29, 2019 His belongings connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls whod been taken from their homes in Virginia years earlier: Sofia Silva, 16, in 1996, and sisters Kristin, 15, and Kati Lisk, in 1997. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Her decomposed body was found five weeks later in a creek in King George, Virginia, yet the police could not comprehend the cause of death and the killers identity. Born in July 1963 in Columbia, South Carolina, Richard Marc Evonitz was the oldest of Joseph and Tess Ragin Evonitzs three children. 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. Evonitz tried to start a new business in 1999, to manufacture wheel grinders for industrial tools, but he failed. The sisters disappeared from their yard on May 1, 1997. Related:What Should Guests Do If an Animal at Animal Kingdom Escapes? Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. Nevertheless, the couple tied the knot in 1999 and moved into a small garden apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. If she had picked the simple lock, as police later did, she would have found evidence of her husband's crimes. He forcefully held Kara in his Who is Kara Robinsons Husband? 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. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the majority of children are abducted by someone they know. Evonitz fled his apartment after Robinson's escape and headed down to Florida. What do you think about Karas amazing story? None of it contained telling DNA evidence. He took her to his home before raping her repeatedly, then tied her to the bed before falling asleep, allowing her to the opportunity to escape and alert authorities. In addition to the newspaper clippings, the police found notes about the three girls and directions to a location near their home. Richard Marc Edward Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963, at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, to Joseph Evonitz and Tess Ragin Evonitz. Who is Richard Marc Evonitz? Death Cause - Wife, Age, Family - YouTube . Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. Evonitz's two sisters grew up in the same household, and neither caused the heartaches he did. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? : r Maria Glod is the deputy Metro editor at The Washington Post. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. He pulled a gun. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996, and then his second wife Hope Marie Crowley from 1999 till his death. Who is Hope Marie Crowley? Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. Law enforcement officials said he was born and raised near Columbia and attended Irmo High School before joining the Navy. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Most children are kidnapped by someone they know, per the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. 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. 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. Richard Marc Evonitz born July 29, 1963 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, S.Carolina. At the time of Kara's abduction and subsequent sexual assault, Evonitz's wife of three years, Hope Marie Crawley, was visiting Walt Disney World Resort. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Two Richland County deputies and one FBI agent formed a team today that will work full time to reconstruct Evonitz's life. 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 . He forced her to watch the evening news to see if there was a report of her kidnapping. Evonitz reportedly abducted the teenager while his second wife, Hope Marie Crowley, was on vacation. "Just like an animal, he stalks his victims, waits for the right time and takes them," Downes said. Yet, despite her traumatic ordeal, she kept an alert mind and noted all the details of her surroundings. Does She Have Kids? 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. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. Indeed for the families involved, and for many others in the community, any review of these cases would be painful. Their bodies were found five days later. [2], In January 1987, Evonitz exposed himself and masturbated in front of a 15-year-old girl in Orange Park, Florida. Three years after Bonnie Lou Gower left Richard Evonitz, he remarried Hope Marie Crowley. But authorities and former co-workers said even those closest to Evonitz had no indication that he might have been hiding something. "We had a couple of fights about the footlocker," Hope Evonitz said in a recent interview with The Free Lance-Star. 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. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. They argue that many people grow up in toxic surroundings and don't become serial killers. Evonitz, 38, said he had killed someone and that he had committed "more crimes than he can remember," Richland County, S.C., Sheriff Leon Lott said today. The 39-year-old killed himself following a police chase in Florida that same year. While her friend got ready, Robinson was watering the front lawn. 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. When Evonitz looked for her, she was not there. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice 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. He took her to his apartment, raped her, forced her to smoke marijuana, and tied her to his bed. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. During the time of these killings, a serial killer was working in the area, Marc Evonitz. 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. Richard forced the teenager into a plastic bin, drove her to his apartment, and tied her hands and feet. The pursuit ended when Evonitz ran over spike strips and was forced to exit his vehicle. Police records in Clay County say he "confessed both orally and written to his guilt. As the detectives investigated further, they discovered that after fleeing his Columbia apartment, he had allegedly called some relatives and cryptically stated his crimes. Authorities said Evonitz pulled up in his mother's green Pontiac Firebird and offered to sell her some magazines. "She was so, so alert," Metts said. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. You can cancel at any time. Related:Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Bluebeard hid the bodies of his murdered wives behind one of the locked doors in his castle. Hope Evonitz wonders if the trophy box was her husband's way of trying to keep his demons under lock and key. 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. The last days of Richard Marc Evonitz, suspect in the Lisk-Silva slayings He declared bankruptcy after losing the majority of his money as a result of the divorce. Evonitz's wives were curious about the blue trunk, yet never opened it. From all accounts, officials said, Evonitz exhibited no violent behavior in childhood, and he got along well in the Navy and at work. Evonitz abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson Chamberlain three days before his death. 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. Thankfully, Kara exhibited immense bravery despite her trauma and managed to escape Richards house the following day. Besides, the DNA samples collected from the apartment also matched the ones found on the three victims. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Their continuing work has unlocked some of the mystery that surrounds the man: the why behind his crimes, and the nature and extent of his dangerous perversions. She was eventually able to escape and share information with authorities. Evonitz used metal trunk, lies to shield truth. Learn more about Kara Robinsons story here: True Crime Daily, Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. 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. Hope Marie Crowley was taken aback when she learned that her husband was a criminal. Richard Evonitz was reportedly married to Bonnie Lou Gower from 1988 to 1996. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. 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. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. Evonitzs criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. For instance, Kara noticed Hopes hairbrush lying around, with a few red hairs on it. He used his mother's car when he abducted Kara. In May 1997, 15-year-old Kristin Lisk and her 12-year-old sister, Kati, vanished from their front yard in Spotsylvania. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts said Evonitz tied the girl up and raped her. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. Inside was a copy of The Free Lance-Star from 1997, with front-page news of the disappearance of the Lisk sisters. "End of Trial Fails To End Uncertainty; Family Seeks Justice in '96 Va. Killings, While Man Wants to Clear His Name" Washington Post, September 4, 2005 Ian Shapira and Maria Glod, List of serial killers in the United States, "As Police Closed In, Evonitz Admitted Crimes to Sister", "Lifetime Partners Again with Elizabeth Smart on "The Kara Robinson Story", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Evonitz&oldid=1142021837, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Spotsylvania Serial killer, Lisk/Silva Killer, Bonnie Lou Gower (1988-1996), Hope Marie Crowley (1999-his death), This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 03:03. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. Another strange DNA quirk happened with the case. Because of that, we do not have any information about how he was on the social media platform or his lifestyle. 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. Robinson, then 15, was watering plants at a friends house in Colombia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002, when her companion walked inside. They will focus on possible links between Evonitz and unsolved crimes. 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. This included 16-year-old Sofia Silva and 12 and 15-year-old sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. ", "Suspect stated he has a problem with masturbating in front of girls," the report said. The man held a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. To avoid confusion with a paternal uncle called Richard, he graduated from Irmo High School in 1980 at the age of 16. 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. In 1996, Gower left Evonitz for a man in California. Through evidence discovered after Robinsons brave escape, Evonitz was tied to the Silva and Lisk murders. He was attacked by a police dog and ultimately shot himself while surrounded, rather than face the consequences of his actions. His belongings, connected him to the abduction and murder of three girls. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice The information shed stored in her head proved invaluable in confirming his identity. 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}}. The conversation took place before he killed himself after a police chase in Florida. Before being honorably discharged after eight years of service, he worked as a sonar technician and won a Good Conduct Medal. Hope Marie Crowley Now: Where is Richard Evonitz's Wife Today? As they released a police dog, he put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.. Escaping Captivity: The Kara Robinson Story,. 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. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. Marie Crowly, his wife, couldnt believe her husband was a criminal. 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. Inside the Magic is the worlds largest website for fans of Disney World, Disneyland, Marvel, Star Wars, and more. Richard Evonitz had a pattern of committing crimes while his wives were absent. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Cara Robinson was abducted out of her friends yard by serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz. However, they found a lead in May 1997 when two sisters were found dead in Hanover County. They hadn't. He forcefully held Kara in his apartment and sexually assaulted her repeatedly for eighteen hours, but luckily, she escaped the following morning. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. He was honorably discharged and received medals, including the Navy Achievement Medal, which is given for leadership. Impulse was a ready excuse for Evonitz, but he was more complicated than that. 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. Robinson escaped his apartment after being raped and notified police. #onthisday pic.twitter.com/OIcfpFebnS. So he deviated from his plan. Eventually, the Columbia native tied the knot with Hope Marie Crowley in 1999. Birth date from SSDI as Marc E Evonitz, SSN 251-04-4170. When he abducted Kara, he did so only after placing his wife and mother on a plane for Walt Disney World. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. 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. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. Evonitz was born on July 29, 1963 meaning he was around 25 years old when he was married to Gower. Hope Evonitz, his second wife,. It was his preference, a well-developed appetite. "She was able to give us information down to the exactness of what was in the apartment.". The case never went cold, because the task force never stopped working. 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. Moreover, Richard admitted that he often had uncontrollable sexual urges and would look for and target teenage girls. He would not be able to join them, he said, because he had to work. Per a Washington Post report, she later expressed that she had no idea her husband was a murderer, though he did allegedly confess to his sister just prior to his death. 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. The only time she became animated was when she talked about the footlocker. This made Richard a primary suspect in the murder investigation. 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. She began working as an assignment editor on the local desk in 2011. Crowley was working as a waitress at Aunt Sarahs Pancake House in Massaponax when they met. Kristen and Jennifer, his two daughters, were born in 1968 and 1971, respectively, and he was the first of three children. His mother described the moment she realized he had betrayed her: With her son on the run, she returned from Disney World to her home in Columbia. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. Evonitz stored the footlocker in the corner of his cluttered bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of clothes. After her escape, Kara helped lead authorities to her abductors apartment. A few days later, they were found dead in a river. The footlocker was symbolic of the control that Evonitz had over his two wives, said Gerard F. Downes, a criminal profiler with the FBI. Their bodies were found five days later in the South Anna River. He believed he could do whatever he wanted. In his wifes absence, he abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson from her friends yard in Columbia at gunpoint. That was two years ago. Her decomposed body was found a month later in a creek off State Route 3 in King George County. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. I wasn't going to breach that.". Guns, ropes, and other tools for murder were also found, as were notes that signaled Evonitz had his eye on other potential victims. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. The abduction became the biggest mistake of Richard Evonitz's criminal career when Robinson escaped and eventually sent police down his path. When it came to his net worth, he was just like the rest of us. Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. He chose strangers to abduct and kill. Investigators said they might never have stopped Evonitz had Robinson not saved her own life, reported WISTV.com. By then, Richard had already fled, but Kara could identify the hairbrush with Hopes hair, which became crucial evidence in the investigation. Richard had separated from his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1996 and was considerably older than Hope. Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. 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? Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Richard Evonitz - Wikipedia Evonitz and his second wife then moved to Columbia, where he found work at Armstrong Compressed Air Services, based 80 miles away in Spartanburg. [8][9], On February 11, 2023, Lifetime released a television film called The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. Evonitz hid the souvenirs of his crimes in a locked footlocker in his bedroom. She shared with People: It was one of the most important things thats ever happened to me, she says. 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. They learned later that Bonnie, his first wife, had the blanket in California. He was trolling for potential victims and the best places to dispose of their bodies. Inside Evonitzs apartment, authorities made a chilling discovery. Smith said detectives found evidence in their South Carolina searches that Evonitz was stalking other girls in Spotsylvania. Her older sister was inside but hadn't heard a thing, according to the New York Daily News. 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. Years later, while on the run in South Carolina, he told his sister Kristen that he had abducted and raped a 15-year-old girl, as police charged. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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. Police describe his victims as "low-risk," meaning that they did nothing to put themselves in danger. How does the aftermath of derailed train in Ohio mirror Netflix's White Evonitzs wife was still at The Most Magical Place on Earth while the entire sordid situation unfolded. Both bodies were found five days later in a river. During that time, she met 36-year-old Richard Marc Evonitz of Columbia, South Carolina, and love quickly blossomed between the two. I was really, really angry, she told producers. You have permission to edit this article. Friends and neighbors described the Evonitzs as a pleasant couple, especially Richard was known as someone who was friendly and loved animals. Who was Richard Evonitz's wife? Kara Robinson's kidnapper was married twice Following his service in the Navy, Evonitz worked for a number of companies that supplied compressors and grinding machines. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. From 1988 to 1996, Evonitz married Bonnie Lou Gower, and from 1999 till his death, he was married to Hope Marie Crowley. By the time he died, he had progressed from indecent exposure to murder. Later, when examining Evonitz's pornographic tape collection, they found out why. He then sexually assaulted and strangled them to death, dumping their bodies in the South Anna River. He pulled a gun. As the investigators searched for the suspect, they soon traced his location to Sarasota, Florida.