richard evonitz wife hope

When investigators searched Richard Evonitzs South Carolina apartment, they discovered his connections to the brutal murders of three innocent young girls in the 90s. Investigators suspected the the murders were linked to Silva's, The New York Daily News reported. 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. His wife and mother were out of town on a trip to Walt Disney World, according to a 2002 Washington Post article. She realized that a woman with red hair lived with Evonitz when she was abucted. 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. 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. Inside the pocket was trace evidence that connected Evonitz to the Lisk sisters. 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. Authorities found the fingerprints of Krista Lisk inside one of his vehicles, further incriminating him in the heinous murders. 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. As per the news reported, Marie was a loyal wife to her husband. The small village, near the border of Pennsylvania, was one of the filming locations used for the Netflix adaptation of Don DeLillo's White . She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. 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. "We'll take it from the time he was born and go forward. So he deviated from his plan. 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. "From what we've been able to discern, there were no signals, no signs," Lott said. By using this site you agree to our privacy policy. He entered a plea of no contest and was sentenced to three years' probation. Many of the police who worked on the Lisk/Silva case for nearly six years are the same ones now studying Evonitz. To her, they were harmless sightseeing trips. Two men she stopped in the parking lot took her to a sheriff's station. Evonitz has been suspected of other murders, and confessed a number of crimes to his sister shortly before committing suicide. He married his first wife, Bonnie Lou Gower, in 1988 but suffered a severe financial crisis after their divorce in 1996. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. She had no idea that he had used it to wrap the bodies of the Lisk and Silva girls. Kara now a 35-year-old motivational speaker miraculously escaped, ultimately leading police to the would-be murderers Columbia, South Carolina apartment. The investigation into Evonitz as the killer of the three girls in Virginia didnt end with his death. The 16-year-old Courtland High junior wanted to go to cosmetology school and loved the color purple. ", ON THE WEB: For previous stories in this series, visit fredericksburg.com, To reach JIM HALL: 540/374-5433 jhall@freelancestar.com. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. 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. Oxygen Network created a documentary about Karas ordeal and incredible survival. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story. But due to the lack of evidence, both cases remained cold for several years until June 24, 2002, when Richard abducted 15-year-old Kara Robinson at gunpoint from her friends front yard in Columbia. A People report about Karas bravery noted: However, by the time authorities got there, Evonitz had fled. 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. By the time authorities arrived, Evonitz had fled, eventually making his way to Sarasota, Florida. 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. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. 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. We focus on bringing you all things fun so you can plan your theme park vacation, enjoy Disney at home, and more. We don't want to rush things. r/standwithusa 5 min. In Spotsylvania, Maj. Howard Smith said the Lisk-Silva Task Force -- composed of FBI agents, state police and Spotsylvania and King George County deputies -- has been doubled in size and also will try to learn "everything this guy has done in the last 10 or 15 years.". Evonitz's criminal career reportedly started the year before he tied the knot with Bonnie Lou Gower. He chose Kara on the spur of the moment. It was then that Evonitz drove up and started chatting to her under the pretense of selling magazines -- before pointing a gun at her and forcing her into a Rubbermaid container in the back of his car, the New York Daily News reported in 2015. At this point, Evonitz was serving in the US Navy and the couple were based between California and Maine. . Its never been established if Evonitz was involved in more than three murders. He was married twice. Cara Robinson later became a police officer. "They were in fear of him," Downes said. Big Changes Are Coming to Disneys Paid Genie+ Service, Michael Keatons Morbius Role Is an Easter Egg, Inside the Magic Your Ultimate Source for Themed EntertainmentCoverage, Watchmen Actors Family Speaks Out, Convinced He Was Murdered, Mandalorian Actor Facing Underage Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Woman Seen Handcuffed at Disneys Hollywood Studios, Iconic Disney Trains Left Brilliantly Vandalized at EPCOT. They also found evidence he was stalking other girls in Virginia, according to The Associated Press. The bridge was four miles from U.S. 1 and 31 miles from his home near Massaponax Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. the New York Daily News reported in 2015. the Associated Press reported at the time. In 2002, the 15-year-old's life took a devastating flip after being kidnapped by Richard Evonitz from her good pal's dwelling in Columbia, South Carolina. From Evonitz's notes police learned that Kara, his South Carolina victim, was not his first choice that day in June 2002. Sisterhood Of Survival: Elizabeth Smart, Kara Robinson Spearhead New Oxygen Documentary, How Kara Robinson Tried to Cope with Trauma. Evonitz was sentenced to three years of probation for this offense. "I just wanted him to sit across from me and look in my eyes, she said, and know that picking me was the greatest mistake he ever made.. When Kara Robinson managed to flee her captor, Richard Evonitz, she was able to assist authorities in the hunt for a serial murderer. 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. According to The Associated Press, the notes included the addresses and descriptions of two more young females. He would not be able to join them, he said, because he had to work. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Evonitz did not have any children with either wives. "It is kind of scary that some guy was out there looking at me, one of the girls described in the notes told the The Free Lance-Star, according to the AP report. She began working with the Richland County Sheriff's Department as a school resource officer. However, little headway was made in the case until Robinson led police to Evonitz. At that point, my brain shut off my emotions. At 15, the Spotsylvania High School freshman played soccer and had an affinity for ladybugs. This February, a derailed train carrying hazardous materials has upended the lives of those living in East Palestine. She was 17 years old at the time and Evonitz was 36. 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. 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. Neighbors in Columbia said he was friendly and quiet. "No signs of the monster.". Gere, 73, is "feeling much better," Silva wrote. For nearly six years the Lisk/Silva task force chased 12,000 leads, obtained dozens of search warrants and considered countless "good" suspects. [4], On September 9, 1996, Evonitz abducted 16-year-old Sofia Silva from her front yard near Loriella Park in Spotsylvania County. We don't know if this is our guy. 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,, . Evonitz was cornered by police in Florida where he then killed himself. You can cancel at any time. This allows us to bring you the most interesting, entertaining, and unique entertainment experiences, covering theme parks, movies, TV, video games, and special events. Most details that have emerged about Evonitz's life show a man who attracted little attention and was liked and respected by colleagues. By the time he died, he had progressed from indecent exposure to murder. Also Read: Actor: Arno Greeff Age, Parents, Brother, Wikipedia -Biography, Ethnicity, Family, Height, Net worth, Birthday. Dawn was breaking when Evonitz fell asleep and Robinson recognized her chance to flee. 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. On June 24, 2002, Hope and Richards mother were away on vacation at Disneyland, California. 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. 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. While Richard seemingly remained inactive for the next few years, he struck again in June 2002. He fled, then committed suicide while surrounded by police in Florida. Later the authorities would prove he killed at least 3 . Richard Marc Evonitz was a rapist, serial murderer, and kidnapper who murdered three small children in Richland County, South Carolina, then kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old female. "Obviously, we're all anxious and want to solve this, but we're also very cautious," Smith said. " 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. 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.